Drivers were asked if another petrol price rise would change the way they use their car. 40 per cent claimed they had already cut back on the amount they drove, while 6 per cent have stopped driving altogether.

Nearly 20% have taken steps to drive more efficiently, and 6 per cent of those polled said they had exchanged their car for a more fuel efficient/lower tax model. Only 14 per cent said they had not changed the way they drive.

A recent OFT report shed some light on why petrol prices have risen so much in the last few years. The twin effects of higher taxes and increased crude oil prices are largely to blame, with VAT and duty rising from 59ppl in 2004, to 81ppl in 2012, and oil prices rising from just 13ppl to 44ppl over the same period. Profit margins have risen from 8ppl to 11ppl over the same timeframe, although this can largely be attributed to inflation. The overall result is a rise in the cost of petrol from 80ppl in 2004 to 136ppl in 2012.

Essentials of car travel – namely fuel, insurance and maintenance costs – remain expensive, while other important extras such as insurance cover for car breakdowns remain competitive. But overall, the figures from these reports show just how many people are being compelled to drive less, or even stop altogether.