Petrol sales to slump further in 2012, according to AA survey

The amount of petrol sold in the UK is set to slump even further this year after a difficult financial year in 2011, following a recent AA survey.

Many drivers have no option than to cut back on their mileage due to the rising cost of fuel, say the Automobile Association. Their survey revealed nearly 40 per cent of AA members would be taking it upon themselves to drive more economically or less often in 2012.

The AA also predicts petrol sales at the pumps will be lower in the first nine months of this year than the 13.9 billion litres sold in the same period last year.

These figures are considerably lower than the 16.3 billion litres sold at fuelling stations in the UK prior to the recession in 2008.

Paul Watters, head of public affairs at AA, said: "Drivers are clearly being forced into cutting their motoring by the high price of fuel and, for many, this will impose difficult constraints on their lives.

"We have reached the stage where motoring is once again only easily affordable for the better off and, with the car still the mainstay means of travel for the majority, that is depressing news at the start of 2012."

Escalating fuel prices are also encouraging motorists to downsize to a vehicle with a smaller engine in order to save money. Damage-repairable cars and stolen-recovered vehicle are growing increasingly popular. This is because they can be more than 50 per cent cheaper than a model purchased from a car showroom or dealership, once repaired. You may even be wondering "is it possible to scrap my car for cash to put towards a damage-repairable car at auction?" and the answer is most definitely yes.

At ASM Auto Recycling we work with some of the country’s biggest independent motor salvage dealers to provide an extensive online salvage auction to customers every week. All salvage cars have been passed as suitable for repair by qualified engineers, in accordance with ABI guidelines.

Drivers ensure they can see their phone whilst at the wheel

Road safety messages to UK motorists regarding mobile phone usage do not appear to be getting through, with almost 40 per cent of drivers in the UK admitting to ensuring their phone is visible whilst driving.

Research from price comparison website, confused.com highlights the implications of being distracted by a phone or social media conversation or text message.

Over a quarter (27 per cent) of motorists surveyed admitted to logging onto Facebook at the wheel, while 15 per cent also admitted to catching up on work calls and emails when stuck in traffic.

Almost half (45 per cent) of respondents revealed they get agitated when they receive calls or texts at the wheel and this is possibly the most worrying statistic with high potential numbers of motorists distracted from the road.

Adrian Walsh, director of road safety campaigner, RoadSafe, reiterates the dangers of using a smartphone whilst driving.

"It’s a frightening thought that people are checking their smartphones while driving. Many studies from across the world prove that drivers using phones are slower to respond than those who are just over the drink-drive limit," he said.

"It is dangerous to use a phone – even hands-free – when driving."

With the wintry weather set to hit Britain’s shores in the coming weeks careful, responsible driving is even more important to avoid potential ice and snow patches on the road.

Many motorists underestimate the perils of driving in winter weather and this, combined with drivers who continue to flout the penalties for using a hand-held phone at the wheel, is a recipe for disaster.

Winter is a dangerous time of the year for motorists, with car transporters busy collecting recovered, scrap and stolen vehicles from the roadside. At ASM Auto Recycling our vehicle transport service collects salvage cars across a vast territory from London to the West Country, with a modern fleet of 10 multi-vehicle car transporters.

Car servicing declared a ‘waste of money’ by UK motorists

Almost a fifth of UK motorists surveyed revealed they thought car servicing on their vehicle was a 'complete waste of money'.

Following research by Manheim Auctions, the same motorists admitted to only getting their car serviced when they can afford it, rather than when recommended following an MOT test

With the cost of motoring increasing by the week, with insurance premiums, road tax and MOT bills to consider, more and more drivers are viewing a service as a nice thing to do rather than a necessity.

On top of this, a third of motorists surveyed also admitted they believed their car maintenance skills were poor or very poor, relying on help from either the garage or friends and family.

Craig Mailey, marketing director for Manheim Auctions, reiterates the importance of regularly maintaining vehicles with road safety foremost in mind.

"It is so important to keep on top of maintaining your car, not just through annual services and MOTs but checking tyre pressure and tread, oil and water levels and all lights.

"Not only will it help keep you safe on the road, it will also ensure you get the best resale price possible for your car when you come to sell it.

"We see so many cars come through auction, and the ones that consistently achieve the best price are the ones that have been properly looked after, with a full service history and a good level of maintenance. It might seem like servicing and car maintenance is a waste of money, but in the long run it really will pay off," he said.

Poor vehicle maintenance can lead to drivers running their vehicle into the ground. Some people are content to do this as the resale value of their car is simply not worthwhile investing time and money in its renovation.

If your vehicle is reaching its end-of-life period and you are wishing to scrap it due to general wear and tear, at ASM Auto Recycling we offer a safe and efficient breakers yard to process ELV vehicles for vehicle dismantling. Many of our scrapped vehicles contain useful used car parts that can be removed, recycled and used again.