40% increase in number of drivers ``running on empty''
AN increasing number of drivers are ``running on empty'' due to high petrol and diesel costs.Breakdown service Green Flag reported a 40% increase in its number of fuel-related call-outs in the second half of January, compared with the same period last month.A survey by the company showed that 48% of drivers had been dangerously close to empty or broke down before reaching the pumps at some point in their lifetime.More than a third of these incidents occured in the last three months during a period when the price of petrol at the pumps has reached record levels.The poll also showed that more than 30% of drivers had cut down on their motoring to offset rising fuel prices.But only 4% had taken up car-sharing and only 6% had bought a more fuel-efficient car.Of the 2,110 adults surveyed, those from Northern Ireland had the most fuel-related breakdowns, while younger drivers were the ones most likely to run out of petrol.Dan Robinson, head of Green Flag, said: ``There is no hiding from the fact that the constant rises in fuel are affecting drivers nationwide, with almost half now driving on empty.''
But drivers may not realize they can lower their premiums through unusual discounts that have nothing to do with their driving record or how much coverage they want.