Drivers 'cut corners to save motoring costs'
Published On 28 April 2007
A new survey had shown that the cost of motoring - which includes factors such as insurance and car finance - has risen dramatically in recent years.According to Zurich, the average person in the UK typically spends £1,776.62 on the day-to-day costs of running their vehicle. More than nine out of every ten motorists (91 per cent) think that the cost of driving has increased in the last five years.
While three quarters (74 per cent) of people said that rising motor costs force them to budget carefully, many admit to cutting corners to afford their wheels.
A fifth of drivers said they delay or avoid paying motoring costs that including insurance, road tax and parking fines. Out of these people, 22 per cent admitted delayed paying for insurance and three per cent said they drove without any form of cover.
"The cost of motoring has risen dramatically over the past few years, putting drivers under increasing financial pressure," said Mark Searles, the chief marketing officer at Zurich Insurance.
"The most worrying findings from our research are those that show some drivers are risking their own and others' safety in a bid to save money. We need to change those attitudes and remember that it is a legal requirement to have both a valid MOT and insurance."
Figures show that there were 3,201 deaths on UK roads in 2005.
