Petrol hike will 'put people off learning to drive' says Gloucester instructor
A PETROL rise of 4p could put more young people off learning to drive, says instructor Mike Morris.
The Petrol Retailers' Assocation (PRA) has predicted a price jump at the pumps over the next few days.
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Petrol pumps
It says the hike is down to an unexplained leap in wholesale prices of 5p a litre since Christmas and "speculation" by wholesale traders.
Mike runs 17+ Gloucester Driving School, based in Barnwood, and said: "Obviously it concerns us greatly because there's a lack of pupils at the moment.
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"There's very few driving tests being done and I think the Driving tandards Agency is concerned too.
"The local test centre only has a one-week waiting list and usually it has a six-week one.
"I think a rise in fuel does put people off and this hike will hit us."
According to Petrolprices.com, the average petrol price in Gloucester yesterday was 131.3p and the highest price was 133.9p.
Some of the cheapest garages with a price of 129.1p were the Jet on London Road, Sainsbury's in St Ann Way and the Esso in Eastern Avenue.
PRA chairman Brian Madderson said: "Independent retailers have been soaking up this increase at the expense of already tight margins because they know how hard the motorist is squeezed. But the floodgates will have to open soon."
He added: "The shock rise in wholesale costs is just one of the reasons why the PRA has been knocking on the door of the Office for Fair Trading since this time last year, to demand a full investigation into the workings of the UK market for road fuel."
"We now need the new chief executive at the OFT, Clive Maxwell, to step out from the shadows and help consumers by conducting a full market study that will lift the veil of secrecy from the wholesale cost movements."
6 Comments
by andypandy789
Saturday, January 26 2013, 1:32PM
“I don't think it will put people off learning to drive it will just put people off going out and visiting, using email and the phone instead. I also think people will buy even less luxuries than ever beacuse of the cost of fuel paased to the shopper. How can Tesco put up something by 10p overnight?
the cost of insurance will stop people learning to drive or rather driving when passing the tests.”
by thomas1996
Saturday, January 26 2013, 1:31PM
“Most diesel cars cost a thousand pounds more than their petrol equivilent, in the case of the new VW Golf, more like 2 grand. You have to drive over 20,000 miles a year to break even so most people have bought a diesel thinking they will save money each year - whoops!”
by Judas
Saturday, January 26 2013, 12:41PM
“Is it just petrol or diesel affected too?”
by lordigaga
Saturday, January 26 2013, 10:20AM
“most people think that the price of fuel is still to low, the way they drive anyway.”
by NibNobs
Saturday, January 26 2013, 9:25AM
“I would have thought a bigger reason to put young people learning to drive was the high cost of first-time insurance. I've heard other parents saying the annual premiums are typically £3,000 - £5,000 - far more than the typical 1st time car, a Citroen Saxo, Vauxhall Corsa or Renault Clio 1.0 is actually worth!
No doubt kind parents still 'fiddle it' by putting the youngster on their own insurance as a named driver but then regret it after the first prang?”
by QuedgeleyGuy
Saturday, January 26 2013, 8:59AM
“I reached the apogee of how much I use my car long ago,due to the death by taxes attitude of our government.
Raising prices can only work until returns diminish to a point where any increase brings a fall in sales and thus income.
The biggest culprit of taxation has to be VAT.
What a swindle. Especially when it comes to fuel.
Fuel carries a 'Carbon' tax that has been given various titles to make us believe the various flim-flam chancellors of various governments.
I think the latest dodge to prise our last pennies from our undeserving fingers is amending the 'Carbon' tax into an Energy/Octane tax.
Then,to add insult to unnecessary injury,VAT is calculated and classes the already-there taxes as the base price before shoving 20 percent on top.
How many of you mugs bought diesel cars when the price of diesel fuel was considerably lower than petrol?
What happened? People bought loads of Oil Burners as the MPG was better than the petrol versions. Then they got stabbed in the back when some rotter decided to reverse the status quo and Diesel fuel increased to a price far in excess of the petrol price.
'Shysters' springs to mind . Just after 'Wasters'. Just after 'Bankers' or summat that sounds like it.
I don't know if it'll put people off learning to drive. It has certainly put me off driving for pleasure.”