Comments in the Independent newspaper on November 12th from newspaper reader to complaints about planned fuel price rise in the UK

These are very good comments by a Mr. Fox in the Independent.

“If fuel costs were really too high then you would expect there to have been a change in driver behaviour to reflect that fact. But most drivers still appear to exceed statutory speed limits on motorways or drive close to them; many overtake unnecessarily especially in urban situations; most accelerate violently away from traffic lights and road junctions; many people still prefer to drive half a mile to the nearest shops rather than walk.

“I cannot afford to do any of these things and find I can save up to 10% in fuel costs by driving at a steady 50 or 55 mph, and watching my fuel consumption gauge on the dashboard rather than my speedometer.

“The enigma is why so few people do the same. It appears fuel is still too cheap for them to care.”

Mr. Fox further responds to another person’s complaint of what it will do to goods transport:

“HGVs (heavy goods vehicles) are some of the worst offenders in burning up fuel by exceeding limits, no doubt under pressure from employers and impossible time schedules, but still putting unnecessary costs on to the consumer through excessive fuel consumption. Without more expensive fuel, we would all still be driving gas guzzlers, as is mostly the case in the USA, where fuel is kept unrealistically cheap. Of course, it is a balance, and I agree with all have to meet increases, but any policy of ‘carry on as normal’ will never produce change in behaviour or energy consumption.”