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Drivers pushed to 'run on empty'
18/07/2008 17:36:00
New research has shown that 340,000 motorists have experienced a breakdown as a result of running out of fuel.
This figure was shown to have risen by ten per cent from the same period last year, according to the study from YouGov, commissioned by road rescue specialists Britannia Rescue.
More than half of people had allowed their fuel tanks to get so low the warning light had come on.
Believed to be a direct effect of rising fuel prices, the company considers this data to be evidence of a "new trend" in motorist behaviour, gambling on how far a car can function on limited fuel.
However, spokesperson for the firm, Emma Holyer, warns people while they try to cut costs, there are potentially negative effects which could be most pricey in the long run.
"Drivers who run their car on empty are at high risk of breaking down. Not only is this extremely costly if you don't have breakdown cover … running out of fuel on the roads that don't have a hard shoulder can create major safety hazards for other drivers," she explained.
Green Clean Cars recently advised the ways people use their cars can significantly assist in improving fuel economy, such as ensuring tyres are correctly inflated and avoiding sudden stops or accelerations.
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