"One billion litres less in sales."
That is the recent trend in fuel consumptions in the UK over the last year, and a troubling narrative of our collective driving habits and attitudes. Analysis? More fuel efficient vehicles? Maybe. People are driving less often? We all tend to do these days. Fill up less? Sure, things are pretty rough everywhere in the economy. Car pooling on the rise? Why not? A recent BBC Radio 4 programme purported that it's a combination of all those. But there was no mention of the millions of unemployed, less affluent, and downright depressed multitudes of people who would otherwise be pump-trigger happy to tank up to the hilt.
2011 saw unemployment figures for young people rocket beyond the one million mark. For approved driving instructors, this means fewer pupils to teach, which also got a recent note in another national survey about decline of living standards.
That is the recent trend in fuel consumptions in the UK over the last year, and a troubling narrative of our collective driving habits and attitudes. Analysis? More fuel efficient vehicles? Maybe. People are driving less often? We all tend to do these days. Fill up less? Sure, things are pretty rough everywhere in the economy. Car pooling on the rise? Why not? A recent BBC Radio 4 programme purported that it's a combination of all those. But there was no mention of the millions of unemployed, less affluent, and downright depressed multitudes of people who would otherwise be pump-trigger happy to tank up to the hilt.
2011 saw unemployment figures for young people rocket beyond the one million mark. For approved driving instructors, this means fewer pupils to teach, which also got a recent note in another national survey about decline of living standards.