Brits change driving style to save

More than 80 per cent of Brits have changed the way they drive over the past 12 months in an effort to save money, a survey has found.

A report from Mintel shows more than 80 per cent of Brits have changed their driving habits to save petrol, while as many as a quarter (24 per cent) have made five or more cost-cutting changes.

Almost one in four (38 per cent) ensure their tyre pressure is correct, a third (34 per cent) now keep their air conditioning off and 32 per cent try and avoid carrying unnecessary weight.

And three in ten (28 per cent) say that they now walk, cycle or take public transport more often.

"While once it was all about conspicuous spending especially when it came to high performance gas guzzlers, now there is almost a sense of competition for who can be the thriftiest," said Jim Clark, senior leisure analyst at Mintel.

"Most of the changes that Britain's motorists made to their fuel consumption were in response to the soaring oil prices we experienced earlier in 2008. But the lessons learnt will now stand them in good stead for this recent rise in fuel duty."

The chancellor said in his pre-Budget report he would be raising duty on fuel to make up for the reduction in VAT.