LONDON, England: Drivers in the United Kingdom (UK) are being advised to reduce their speed by 10 per cent in response to the Iran oil crisis, which is sparking a surge in pump prices, reported PA Media/dpa.
The Automobile Association (AA) breakdown assistance company said slowing down by that amount “improves fuel efficiency” while still “keeping up with the flow of traffic”.
It advised motorists to avoid “continuous harsh braking” by anticipating traffic lights, roundabouts and changing traffic flow.
AA’s President, Edmund King, said: “It is well worth drivers adapting their driving style and speed both to save money and enhance safety. We estimate that diesel drivers can save £10 (approx. RM60) per tank by changing their driving style.”
King also advised drivers to use fuel price comparison apps to find the cheapest petrol or diesel for their journeys.
“Often there are price discrepancies up to 19p (approx. RM1.18) per litre within short distances,” he warned.
All UK forecourts have been required to report price changes to the government’s Fuel Finder database within half an hour of a change since February 2. The data is used by third-party fuel-price apps and websites.
Motoring services company, the RAC, said the average price of a litre of diesel at UK forecourts on Wednesday was 184.2p (approx. RM11).
That is up 29 per cent from 142.4p (approx. RM8.50) when the war began on February 28.
The average cost of petrol stands at 153.7p (approx. RM9.20) per litre, which represents a 16 per cent increase from 132.8p (RM8.00) when the war started.
Oil prices – which have a significant effect on the cost of wholesale fuel – have soared in response to Iran’s stranglehold on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Motoring research charity, RAC Foundation, estimated that rises in pump prices have led to motorists paying an additional £583 million (RM3.7 billion) for petrol and diesel.
This consists of £439 million (RM2.78 billion) for diesel and £144 million (RM910 million) for petrol.
The disparity is caused by a combination of the record price gap between the fuels and the fact that more diesel is sold.
The figures are based on average daily pump price rises and last year’s fuel consumption rate. – BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa
