Is it socially acceptable to ask passengers to contribute to fuel costs?

3 minute read|22nd Apr 2022

Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, fuel prices in the UK have continued surge to all-time highs. As a result, an increasing number of UK motorists think it is socially acceptable to ask passengers to contribute to the cost of filling up their tank in exchange for a lift.

Research commissioned by road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has revealed that nearly two thirds (64%) of the 1,000 drivers surveyed believe it is becoming more socially acceptable for designated drivers to ask passengers to help pay at the pumps.

These findings come as the cost-of-living crisis deepens for households across the country, with average petrol prices rising by 12.6p per litre between February and March, the largest monthly rise since records began in 1990 according to ONS’s Consumer Price Index.

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According to the data, young drivers are more likely to ask passengers to help foot fuel bills, with eight in ten (82%) of drivers between the age 18-24 believing it is more acceptable.

This compares to over half (58%) of over 65s, who are the least likely age group to split fuel costs.

The full survey results are below for the question 'Do you think it’s becoming more socially acceptable to ask someone to contribute towards your petrol if you are the designated driver?';

Age	Yes	No
18-24	82%	18%
25-34	67%	33%
35-44	67%	33%
45-54	58%	42%
55-64	68%	32%
65+	58%	42%

IAM RoadSmart’s survey also revealed a difference in opinion according to country, with over eight in ten (86%) of Welsh motorists considering it to be acceptable to ask for passengers to contribute to petrol costs, the highest percentage answer.

Just over half (55%) of Scottish and Northern Irish motorists felt it is becoming more socially acceptable to ask passengers to chip in for fuel costs, making them the least likely to do so.

In England, drivers from the East Midlands were most likely to ask for fuel contributions with seven in ten (70%) sharing the belief that passengers should fork out for fuel, while residents of the East of England were feeling less generous, with under six in ten (56%) motorists from this region thinking it is socially acceptable to ask for fuel contributions.

Below are the results from the question 'Do you think it’s becoming more socially acceptable to ask someone to contribute towards your petrol if you are the designated driver?';

Region	Yes	No
West Midlands	67%	33%
London	67%	33%
South East	65%	35%
North East	64%	36%
Yorkshire	62%	38%
North West	61%	39%
South West	59%	41%

Director of Policy and Research at IAM RoadSmart, Neil Greig, commented: “With the soaring cost of fuel, as well as so many other factors contributing to the cost-of-living squeeze, perhaps it comes as little surprise that so many drivers are open to asking passengers to contribute towards their petrol and diesel bills.”

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