Motorists waste £1.1 million a week

In an age of austerity, a new poll by Santander may come as a surprise to many of those tightening their belts and seeking out the best savings rates.

The survey found that almost a third of drivers admit to making weekly car journeys of less than half a mile, the equivalent of around 11.4 million motorists.

Furthermore, around 2.1 million admitted that they do it as much as five times a week, but only one in three 'one minute motorists' feel guilty about their short journeys.

As a result of the study, Santander has estimated that drivers make around 58 million half-mile car journeys every year, at a weekly cost of £1.1million.

Many drivers admitted that they would give up their 'one minute' drives if public transport was more efficient and less costly, with 32 per cent and 25 per cent respectively claiming this.

Young drivers are the biggest culprits, with 38 per cent of motorists aged 18-34 admitting to making at least one of these trips once a week.

"Despite soaring fuel costs, many motorists still give in to the temptation of using the car to make journeys that only take 10 - 15 minutes by foot. While people should try to reduce their car usage where possible because of the environmental impact, it is a vital resource for many people who are less able to get about or who live in rural areas, particularly as the evenings draw in and the weather gets colder," said Callum Gibson, managing director at Santander Cards.

Recently, a spokeswoman for the Institute of Advanced Motorists IAM suggested that savers may also feel that the impact of increasing insurance costs, so it is in motorists' interests to cut down on needless journeys in order to save money to pay for their cover. 

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2011-11-18 13:29:27 © Moneyextra.com