Press release -
Cost of motoring creates three million ‘ghost cars’
Nearly three million cars in UK now used less than once a week
- 40% of Brits say they now drive less than they did a year ago
- Almost half of these say they have cut down on driving due to financial concerns
- 2.9 million ‘ghost cars’ in the UK are now used less than once a week
Britain’s streets and driveways have become the resting place of ‘ghost cars’ as motorists are abandoning their vehicles or dramatically cutting back on journeys in a desperate effort to save money.
The RAC estimates that there are now 2.9 million cars in the UK which are being used less than once a week*. One in seven respondents (14%) said that their household owned a car which was only used occasionally, with the North East (22%) and London (20%) the areas where this was most common, probably due to their extensive public transport networks. Amazingly, one third of these unused cars are only one to two years old, meaning they are rapidly depreciating in value while they sit idle on the driveway.
In the study conducted by the RAC, 40% of people said that they now use their cars less than they did a year ago, compared to just 14% who said they drove more regularly. Almost half (45%) of those cutting down on their driving said that this was due to financial concerns, meaning trips to visit family, friends and other parts of the country could be being sacrificed to save on fuel.
With the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement fast approaching, the RAC and the lobby group FairFuelUK are calling on the Government to abandon its planned 3p petrol duty increase, which is due to come into effect in January. With research now showing that the spiralling cost of motoring is forcing drivers off the roads, it believes reducing tax on petrol and diesel will help to stimulate the economy and actually generate more income for the Treasury.
RAC technical director David Bizley says: “The fact that there are almost three million ‘ghost cars’ on Britain’s roads which are used less than once a week shows that UK motorists are being priced out of motoring. This research backs up our belief that reducing fuel tax would in fact help generate more revenue for the Treasury and act as a catalyst for the British economy as a whole.”
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Notes to Editors
Based on a survey of 1,359 people conducted by the RAC
* 14% of respondents who said their household had a vehicle which was used less than once a week, multiplied by 20.5 million households in UK -http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/mro/news-release/workless-households-down-by-153-000-to-3-7-million/whnr0812.html
About the RAC
First formed in 1897, the RAC has been looking after the needs of its members and championing the interests of drivers for more than 120 years.
Today it has more than eight million members and is one of the UK’s most progressive motoring organisations, providing services for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, insurance, buying a used car, vehicle inspections and checks, legal services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information – the RAC offers a solution for all motoring needs. The RAC is committed to making motoring easier, safer, more affordable and more enjoyable for drivers and road users.
The RAC is the motorist’s champion and campaigns to support the interests of its members and UK drivers at a national level. This includes voicing concerns about the increasing cost of motoring, particularly the price of fuel and the high level of tax levied on it, advancing levels of road safety, and supporting the needs of all drivers, from young to old.
The RAC’s annual Report on Motoring – first published in 1989 – is one of a kind and provides a clear insight into the concerns and issues facing today’s motorists.
For the very latest news on UK fuel prices, check RAC Fuel Watch. It provides a comprehensive guide to the latest UK unleaded petrol and diesel prices – both at the wholesale level and at the pump - and tracks these prices daily to help drivers check if the price they pay to fill up is a fair one.
