British motorists refusing to ditch their cars

Research produced by esure car insurance has shown that petrol prices would have to soar to an average of £1.75 per litre for most motorists to consider ditching their cars.

Currently, petrol is priced at around £1.15 per litre, but this isn't enough to drive car users to get on the buses.

Almost a fifth of drivers (17 per cent) admitted to being prepared to pay £2 per litre in order to stay on the road.

Of those surveyed, 76 per cent said they worried about rising fuel costs more than ever before, but 47 per cent said they would never consider taking public transport instead, no matter how expensive it became.

Young people are most likely to consider ditching the car for public transport, but those aged between 35 and 54 are by the most resistant to change.

Prices would, according to the survey, have to rise 57 per cent for them to consider hanging up their keys.

Mike Pickard, head of risk and underwriting at esure, said: "It is indicative that motorists value their cars highly across the UK.

"British motorists are used to the convenience of driving their own cars and are clearly prepared to pay the price, however high, in order to stay on the road and keep their freedom. Petrol is seen as a commodity that people are just not prepared to give up.

"In a bid to conserve as much petrol as possible, simple changes to the way you drive can help prevent your car from guzzling up your hard earned cash," Pickard continued.

"Driving slower, avoiding excessive breaking and switching off or turning down air conditioning or heating can all help."

The research highlighted that motorists from the South East are willing to pay the most - an average of £1.84 per litre for petrol - whereas those in Scotland said that if prices reached £1.68 per litre they would consider substituting their car in favour of public transport.