Fuel cost pricing drivers off road

The huge impact of soaring fuel prices was laid bare today as Midland firms revealed they are being crippled by rises while motorists are priced off the road.

Figures today revealed petrol sales plummeted one billion litres in the first nine months of 2011 – and the AA warned of an even bigger drop in car use this year.

An Express & Star investigation shows how prices have rocketed in 12 months, with diesel up 10p a litre and petrol up 6p since January last year.

But there is little respite on the public transport networks today, as train fares rose by up to 10.6 per cent along with a 10p rise in the cost of bus and tram tickets in the West Midlands.

It was revealed today that sales of petrol at the pumps totalled 13.9 billion litres in the period January-September 2011, compared with 14.9 billion litres in the same period in 2010 and 16.3 billion in the same, pre-recession period in 2008.

According to an AA survey of more than 20,000 members, nearly 40 per cent said they would either drive more economically or drive less often in 2012.

Haulage workers, taxi drivers and driving instructors today told of their fears for the future amid rising costs and falling trade.

But there is also anger from public transport users, who are protesting at train stations across the UK today following huge rises in fares.

Paul Watters of the AA said: "Drivers are clearly being forced into cutting their motoring by the high price of fuel."