Car commuters told to cut spending

31/01/2013

Research reveals car commuters in the UK spend an average of £840 on petrol or diesel over a distance of 3,326 miles each year.

Workers in Scotland travel further than anybody else in Britain, driving an average of 3,934 miles in a calendar year, according to Santander 123 cashback credit card. Car commuters in the East of England cover just 27 miles fewer, while people in the East Midlands travel 3,643 miles each.

Nobody spends more than motorists in the East of England on getting to work and back. Commuters in that part of the country fork out an average of £1,008 on fuel a year, with workers in the East Midlands next on £960, and Londoners not far behind on £948.

Santander hopes the findings will act as a wake-up call to car commuters and encourage them to find ways of cutting travel costs. Almost two-thirds of workers were found to commute by car.

Santander Cards CEO Alan Mathewson said: "Over the course of a year, car commuters could save a significant amount of money by making small changes to their routine. For example, they could consider carpooling with colleagues."

Some people have no option but to travel to and from work by car. Saving money on car insurance could free up extra cash to spend at the pumps.

Copyright © Press Association 2013.