2011 has witnessed a significant slump in petrol sales in the UK with the very nice men at the AA predicting further falls in to 2012.

Petrol sales between January and September 2011 totalled 13.9 billion litres showing a fall of over over 6%. The economic downturn together with the rising price of fuel is forcing motorists think twice about making journeys unless they are absolutely necessary.

Results of an AA survey of more than 20,000 members has shown that 40% will resort to hypermiling either make less journeys or try to drive more economically in 2012.

Head of AA public affairs; Paul Watters commented, “Drivers are clearly being forced into cutting their motoring by the high price of fuel and, for many, this will impose difficult constraints on their lives. We have reached the stage where motoring is once again only easily affordable for the better off and, with the car still the mainstay means of travel for the majority, that is depressing news at the start of 2012.”

For those reading this that are considering driving more economically in 2012 see our Hypermiling Techniques page.