Drivers love to complain about the cost of petrol. For some, in fact, it had become something of an obsession to explain to colleagues and friends just how unfair it all is. But there is one thing that can make them weep even more: car insurance. According to a leading provider of insurance, car insurance premiums have gone up by an eye watering 40% over the last year – that makes the overall rate of inflation look positively laughable. £892 is now the average premium for a third party, fire and theft policy. But the biggest cost is born by younger drivers – their average premium is now a whacking great £1,533.

I hear of more and more people turning to public transport in order to reduce their outgoings, something that is all the more surprising when you know what the average on-peak train ticket costs.

The upshot of these massive premiums is that some motorists feel compelled to withhold information when taking out a vehicle recovery policy, or attempt to reduce costs by exaggerating personal injury claims. This, of course, just means higher premiums for honest drivers.

But there are indeed ways that motorists can save their pennies – not least with vehicle recovery policies from startrescue.co.uk (with everything from short term European cover to the comprehensive 5 Star policy). In addition to this, fewer non essential journeys, turning off the engine when stuck in traffic and getting on one’s bicycle now and again – are all likely to figure much more in our driving lifestyles in the coming months.