Sometimes being a driver gets a little more complicated than simply finding a good deal on petrol or finding a quality European breakdown cover policy - sometimes being able to use our vehicles at all is called into question.

The government has recommended that people, particularly businesses make "contingency plans” for possible strike action by tanker drivers. Such action, which might see around 90% of tanker drivers not working, might well bring the UK to a standstill, if it goes ahead.

The government's call for people to make contingency plans has been seen by the opposition as scaremongering - effectively inspiring panic buying. Labour said No 10's comments were “the height of irresponsibility” in effect “giving the impression that people should be panic buying.”

The government has been looking into training military personnel to drive tankers, but being able to cover the entire country would be all but impossible, as they themselves admit. Emergency services will be able to access government-stockpiled supplies before any other organisation.

To what degree, if any, the UK's motorists decide to 'panic buy' remains to be seen, but calling upon the public to consider buying up fuel is rather unprecedented. Time will tell if the British public respond to No 10's comments in this way.