Atherton Online

I myself am yet to experience the joyous feeling of owning my own 4 wheeled traveller, my own car with its own radio and all sorts of buttons and knobs which I can twist and push until my heart's content. The apparent satisfaction at using De-icer for the first time and even driving into a petrol station for the first time to fill my own engine with fuel. I would jump at the chance to be a driver, feel the wind hit my face with both windows open at either side of me and even the sheer thought of being stuck in work’s traffic fills me with a slight pleasure... to feel the frustration of wanting to rush home, but yet stuck in gridlock. I, however at 18 am penalised if wanting to do so as in order to become a statistic of having the ability to drive... I would not only have to find and pay out the money for the car itself, which of course is understandable, however, due to my age being 18 I would also be expected to pay thousands upon thousands for insurance which would probably end up being more costly than the car itself.

Ridiculous! The government are not only making it near impossible for young folk like me to become a driver but also Britain’s mature and experienced driver, near enough to a point where the fact of just wanting to have a ride round or even use the blasted thing is near impossible. Young drivers are all being stereotyped in being irresponsible when behind the wheel, whilst mature drivers are being blackmailed in paying more for this, that and more in-order to even maintain their licence in being a fully qualified casual driver.

A shocking report this week has shown that the annual cost of driving this year has soared since September last year by 14% making it a total rise of £6,689. That amount is almost treble the 5% price of current inflation and equates to around £819 per car.

It is apparent that in order to be a driver these days the government are intending to make sure it is purely millionaires who have the luxury to explore the long and winding roads of the UK, I would not be surprised if we didn’t go back to a previous decade where there was a clear class divide to just whom had a car. The days of the Bentley could be returning it seems. Driving and being a driver once had a connotation as being unaffordable for many until in the 90’s/early 2000’s where seemingly everybody had one thanks to the cheapness of the likes of Ford Focus’s. The astronomical charges recently are beyond the average man’s price wage and quite honestly is a frightening thing to wonder whether we shall be in this situation in even 3 or 4 years time. The report unsurprisingly revealed that the most severe rise was that of fuel which soared 13.8 per cent for unleaded to 134.7p per litre and 15.1 per cent for diesel to 140.49p per litre though this has been slightly offset by a marginal improvement in fuel consumption.

RAC Motoring Strategist Adrian Tink said:

“This year’s Cost of Motoring Index highlights the tough conditions being faced by Britain’s motorists.

"With the annual cost of motoring approaching seven thousand pounds the price burden of car ownership is hitting drivers hard. The increase of almost three times the rate of inflation is crippling drivers’ wallets and something needs to be done to stem the tide.

“With fuel prices continuing to be the biggest single running cost, UK drivers want action from the Government.

"Last week’s Commons debate, prompted by the Fair Fuel UK campaign, showed the real depth of feeling across the country on this issue. At the very least, we are calling for the scrapping of next year’s planned fuel duty increases.

“However it’s not just down to the Government.  Oil companies need to be more transparent over pricing so that drivers know exactly where their hard-earned money is going.

"The Cost of Motoring Index makes it quite clear that motorists are already paying way over the odds. Further increases to fuel prices are simply a step too far.”

I would possibly understand the fact that fuel was so high if their was a major national shortage of the stuff. The reality is the price rates differentiates so much from garage to garage you just have to think whether it is pot luck. You go to one place and get value for money, then you go to another and get around 30 miles for a tenner! Motorists are left static and are having to find alternate ways of travelling from A to B. Of course maybe the drivers should realistically get a grip anyway? Some drivers are unashamedly baffled by you if you state that you have just “walked into town” the look upon their faces makes you look to be on another planet, the unquestionable. “Walk?” they say.

You then establish that they have just driven into town which is simply a 10 minute walk away. Are drivers lazy? If the work commute is costing so much, then just why can they not just jolly well go on the bus, train or tram? Public transport usage has never been so high! Maybe if more people took advantage of that, just maybe the likes of GMPTE would see that a major overhaul is needed of their service and vehicles? Is it the fact that some people are entirely snobby that they see doing the morning commute with fellow members of the public to be nothing other than “common?” Parents with children, surely in usual circumstances the school is only a short walk away? Use your legs for goodness sake. Do we rely to much on the likes of a roaring engine everyday? Is public transport a shambles?
The research shows that used cars are nearly 30 per cent cheaper to run than new vehicles mainly because they suffer less from depreciation. Who can afford a new car these days? Second hang bangers have never been as popular! The clear class divide is visible when you see some idiotic person exceeding the speed limit on the motorway in their new fancy Lambo... the rest of us normal lot are having to watch our speed to keep our wallets full. Smart Cars came onto the scene... where they a success? Certainly not! I cannot remember the last time I have seen one on our roads. Then of course other environmental cars have been invented where you charge them in special electrical outlets at garages, yet can you name a garage locally which provides such a facility? I deem it extremely unlikely that a car shall be invented which runs on water, so just what do we do? Do we boycott the government? Do we demand? Do we refuse? Or do we just carry on in our own sweet way. Probably the latter.

The financial strain on our purses and wallets doesn’t seem to be easing somewhat and driving could be a key as to why. I myself cannot envisage myself with a car at all at the moment, besides I enjoy the thrills and spills of public transport... of course there are some places which simply aren’t accessible by buses or trains and a car is NEEDED, especially in remote areas. Something, however. needs to be done and fast. Technology is moving on at a rate like never before, yet the problem of environmental cars still hasn’t been worked out by a scientific genius. We can only hold off speed so much before we are doing zero miles per hour. Isn’t it a shame that in our lifetime the fantasy of teleportation hasn’t yet become a reality? For the simple fact... it would be free! Then again, knowing our government I’m sure they would think up some essential charge or insurance that would be none negotiable. Please do not get me started on the congestion charge!