Respite from fuel duty freeze will be short-lived warns IAM Trust

Alistair Darling has endeared himself to many a hard working family by postponing his 2p raid on the ‘Bank of Car and Van’. Against a background of continuing crude oil price rises it would have been a deeply unpopular move with a direct negative impact on consumer spending, says Neil Greig, Director of the IAM Motoring Trust. Unfortunately any respite is likely to quickly go unnoticed as crude oil price increases continue to feed through to the forecourts.

The IAM Motoring Trust support incentives to tempt drivers into greener cars but there will be losers in the new system. Second hand values for larger cars will fall and individuals will face stark choices about paying more for their driving or giving up their much loved vehicles. The combination of better technology, cleaner fuels and incentives on VED is already working, adds Greig, CO2 emissions from private car have been stable for the last decade despite a 28% increase in the number of cars. Drivers can fight back - by shopping around for the cheapest fuel and saving up to 15% of their fuel by brushing up their eco-driving skills.

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The IAM Motoring Trust www.iamtrust.org.ukis the research and advocacy arm of the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists).

Media contacts; IAM Motoring Trust Media Relations – 020 8996 9777