Consider low emission cars ahead of hike in fuel prices
Thursday, 16 August 2012
It’s been a summer of tension so far for motorists, many of whom have been anxiously anticipating the outcome of the proposed 3p increase in fuel tax this August.
With transport secretary Justine Greening’s backing of the plan in order to challenge the petrol firms to lower the cost of fuel at the pumps, it seemed for a while that British motorists who were looking forward to heading out on a staycation-type road trip this summer would have to find other alternatives in order to compete with this increased cost.
“The taxes that we get in fund the public services that we all rely on. Surely it’s better to challenge the petrol retailers to pass on reductions to motorists and actually I think that’s probably the most important thing to do,” said Greening in a recent interview in the Telegraph. Now that it’s been confirmed that the fuel duty increase will be frozen until at least January 2013 though, what does this spell for motorists?
The most obvious benefit is, of course, the decreased financial strain on UK car owners, who feel that increasing the price of fuel, of which 60% is in fact tax, is yet another added pressure on the ever-rising cost of living. More potent is perhaps the fact that fuel prices have fallen by 20% since Christmas, yet this is not reflected in what people are paying to be able to drive their vehicles.
In the long-term, this freeze is also yet another stepping-stone on the road to economic recovery. Mr Osborne said of the move: “We are on the side of working families and businesses and this will fuel our recovery at this very difficult economic time for the world.”
As oil prices remain a hot topic of debate, motorists should look to other options to help lighten their load on the road. Low emission cars and more efficient vehicles, in addition to a better infrastructure and public transport, are key to overcoming the rising cost of fuel and paving the way for more sustainable living.
Hybrid cars may be a good option for motorists looking to make an investment that is bound to pay off in the future. The new Honda NSX for example, a reworking of the classic model that was well-known and loved, is a good starting point for those that want a car that is both “fun as well as economical.”
There can be no doubt that fuel duty will continue to be a hotly debated topic in the coming months—although motorists have seen a lifeline in this latest freeze, this is no indefinite solution.
Whether drivers solve this problem through more efficient vehicle solutions or simply by tightening up on their other household expenses, this is one problem that is soon going to have to be tackled head on.
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