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Young Drivers Cut Back On Food To Fill Up


Young Drivers Cut Back On Food To Fill Up

Author: NRMA MediaDate: 06 June 2010

Only three per cent of young drivers are filling up on Friday morning - the cheapest point of the week for the last four weeks - and almost one-in-four are cutting back on food and essentials so they can afford to drive, according to a survey of NRMA Free2go Members.

The survey of more than 200 Free2go Members found 24 per cent of young drivers were trimming their food budgets in order to fill up the car. The survey also found no young drivers were aware that Friday morning was now the cheapest point of the week to buy petrol.

While Friday morning is the cheapest peak in the week the cheapest day on average continues to be Thursday, due to the sudden jump in prices every Friday afternoon.

"The NRMA is now using Facebook to tell its youngest Members when best to buy petrol in order to help reduce the financial strain," NRMA President Wendy Machin said today.

"The weekly cycle changed nine times in the last six months without warning - for the last four weeks Friday has been the cheapest point in the week - so it's not hard to see why young drivers aren't buying petrol at the cheapest time in the week.

"The NRMA is encouraging all drivers to fill up on Fridays for now because it could reduce your fuel bill by as much as $10 a tank. However the weekly cycle is so volatile it could change at any time so keep an eye on our Free2go Facebook page or the NRMA website."

Ms Machin said with petrol prices expected to increase in the long-term the challenge to ensure motorists are not over-charged at the pump was greater than ever.

"Petrol prices recently hit an 18-month high and it is clear from the Free2go survey that the impact on living standards for young people is real," Ms Machin said.

"Three-in-ten young people report a weekly fuel bill is $41 to $60 - that's a lot of money when you're at university or just starting out in your first job."

The median income for undergraduate students is around $220 a week, which means more than one-quarter of their weekly income could be spent on petrol alone.

The Free2go survey found the over-whelming majority (80%) travel by car as opposed to public transport (14%). Young drivers stated the extra length of the journey (60%), lack of accessibility (30%) and unreliability (24%) as the main reasons for choosing the car.

The Free2go survey also found:

  • 72 per cent of young drivers cut back on savings to buy fuel
  • 69 per cent were going out less
  • 60 per cent cut back on non-essential items like DVDs, CDs and books
  • 29 per cent were holidaying less

NRMA Free2go provides roadside assistance for over 105,000 young drivers regardless of which car they are travelling in. Information is available at www.nrmafree2go.com.au

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