How the cost-of-living crisis is making our roads safer

Gareth Herincx

3 days ago
Auto News

Driving a car

Soaring fuel costs have left a hole in the pocket of motorists across the country, but it could be having an unexpected positive impact on UK road safety.

According to latest research commissioned by the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, it’s thought millions of motorists have changed their driving habits for the better.

Of the 1,004 motorists surveyed, 72% stated that they had changed how they travel due to travel costs. Of this number, 38% said that they now drive more economically as a result of rising fuel costs, while almost one in five (19%) have taken extra care to stick to the speed limit.

In other words, up to 12.5m UK motorists are driving more economically and some six million have adopted slower or smoother driving habits in recent times.

“The rising cost of fuel is yet another added expenditure in this difficult cost of living crisis, and our research demonstrates that many have been forced to rethink their driving habits in an effort to keep their fuel costs to a minimum,” said Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart.

“Driving slower and more economically will no doubt help keep the pain at the pumps down, but another positive impact of this is, of course, road safety. We would urge those who have adopted slower and smoother driving habits to maintain these habits, regardless of fuel prices. This way, motorists will not only save money on fuel and travel greener, but also potentially save lives.”

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How the cost-of-living crisis is making our roads safer

Gareth Herincx

7 days ago
Auto News

Driving a car

Soaring fuel costs have left a hole in the pocket of motorists across the country, but it could be having an unexpected positive impact on UK road safety.

According to latest research commissioned by the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, it’s thought millions of motorists have changed their driving habits for the better.

Of the 1,004 motorists surveyed, 72% stated that they had changed how they travel due to travel costs. Of this number, 38% said that they now drive more economically as a result of rising fuel costs, while almost one in five (19%) have taken extra care to stick to the speed limit.

In other words, up to 12.5m UK motorists are driving more economically and some six million have adopted slower or smoother driving habits in recent times.

“The rising cost of fuel is yet another added expenditure in this difficult cost of living crisis, and our research demonstrates that many have been forced to rethink their driving habits in an effort to keep their fuel costs to a minimum,” said Neil Greig, Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart.

“Driving slower and more economically will no doubt help keep the pain at the pumps down, but another positive impact of this is, of course, road safety. We would urge those who have adopted slower and smoother driving habits to maintain these habits, regardless of fuel prices. This way, motorists will not only save money on fuel and travel greener, but also potentially save lives.”

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Top 20 cheapest cars to drive in the UK

Home / Auto News / Top 20 cheapest cars to drive in the UK

Gareth Herincx

2 days ago
Auto News

Cost of motoring

New research by comparison site Uswitch has revealed the cheapest cars to run, breaking down the annual running costs of the country’s most popular motors.

Knowing how much it’s going cost to run a car each year is an important part of any purchase decision, so the study calculated the cost per mile (CPM) and annual running cost (including fuel, insurance, road tax and miles per gallon) against the UK’s average mileage (7,400 miles).

Top 20 cheapest cars to run each year in the UK

Rank Vehicle Total Annual Running Cost Average Cost Per Mile
1 Kia Picanto £1,372.63 £0.19
2 Citroen C1 £1,383.50 £0.19
3 Peugeot 108 £1,405.32 £0.19
4 Toyota Aygo £1,418.58 £0.19
5 Toyota Yaris £1,420.18 £0.19
6 Hyundai i10 £1,439.55 £0.19
7 Toyota Corolla £1,443.84 £0.20
8 Toyota Prius £1,446.27 £0.20
9 Fiat 500 £1,448.96 £0.20
10 Suzuki Swift £1,458.33 £0.20
11 Fiat Panda £1,467.62 £0.20
12 Volkswagen UP! £1,481.03 £0.20
13 Honda Jazz £1,487.20 £0.20
14 Hyundai i20 £1,495.95 £0.20
15 Dacia Sandero £1,502.50 £0.20
16 Skoda Fabia £1,510.75 £0.20
17 Kia Ceed £1,513.12 £0.20
18 Renault Megane £1,516.57 £0.20
19 Ford Fiesta £1,526.51 £0.21
20 Mazda 2 £1,526.99 £0.21

“When buying a new car there are many factors that have to be taken into account before making a final decision on which make and model to purchase,” said Joel Kempson, car insurance expert at Uswitch.com.

“However, undoubtedly the most important factor is the costs that come with purchasing a vehicle, not only the cost of the car itself but also the extra cash needed to run it day to day.

“According to our cost per mile (CPM) calculation, the Kia Picanto is the most affordable car to run per mile, making the vehicle a great choice for drivers wanting to save money over the long term.”

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Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who’s worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

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