North West motorists most worried about cost of driving

North West motorists most worried about cost of driving

Motorists in the North West are more worried about the cost of driving than in any other region around the country.

More than half of the regions’ motorists (52.8 per cent) think the cost of running their car is their biggest motoring concern for 2014 – and this worry outstrips other factors, such as road safety, the cost of parking and vehicle crime, a survey has found.

Donna Kelly, Marketing & Website Editor at car leasing firm Nationwide Vehicle Contracts, the North West firm behind the survey, said: “In the current economic climate, it is no surprise that the cost of motoring figures so highly in motorists’ lists of concerns.

“Fuel prices, taxation and the depreciation costs of owning a car take their toll on motorists’ pockets. This is why we think car leasing is becoming more and more of a viable option for motorists, as it takes many of the risks associated with owning a vehicle away from the motorist themselves.

“The cost of vehicle maintenance is also a huge issue, particularly with the winter months coming. That’s why NVC have created an advice hub to help reduce these costs.

”What is surprising is that these worries far outstrip the other concerns for motorists, such as other motorists’ poor driving, road conditions and crime.”

Around the country, the area where the cost of motoring was of least concern was the South East, with only 33 per cent of motorists were worried about the cost of driving for the year ahead. The North East was slightly behind the North West with 41.7 per cent of people worried and 48 per cent in the South West.

The survey also highlighted differences between the different countries of the UK, as well.

North of the border, 57 per cent of Scots cited cost as their major concern, but only 5.6 per cent were worried about vehicle crime – whereas 9.5 per cent of motorists were worried about vehicle crime in England, and 51 per cent the cost of motoring. Wales had the most motorists worried about other motorists driving, at 50 per cent, compared to 18.4 per cent in England.

Differences emerged between male and female drivers, too. Nearly a quarter of the UK’s female motorists were worried about other people’s driving (24 per cent) compared to only 15.6 per cent of male drivers.

More women than men were worried about road conditions too, with 17.1 per cent of females citing it as a concern, and only 12.5 per cent of men. Women were less worried about vehicle crime than men, however, with only 5.1 per cent citing it as a concern, compared to 11.9 per cent of men.

Overall, however, these other concerns were small concerned to the motorists worries about money – roughly as many motorists were worried about the cost of motoring than other motorists poor driving, road conditions, vehicle crime and the cost of parking put together.