Dismayed drivers have learned that the cost of filling up is due to rise again within the next few weeks.
Latest reports claim we could be paying £6 a gallon by the start of next year.
A crippling combination of rising oil costs and taxes will result in prices soaring by 8% – with 3% of that hike likely to come before the end of the month.
This means the average cost of a litre of unleaded petrol in the UK would leap from around £1.14 to as much as £1.25.
And with family budgets already stretched in the current economic climate, the news will come as a hammer blow to many of Glasgow’s road users.
The Retail Motor Industry Independent Petrol Retailers’ Association (RMI Petrol), blame the price hike on a rise in crude oil prices.
But the majority of the price increase is being driven by rises in fuel duty and VAT, which already makes up more than 70p of the £1.14, almost 65%, paid for an average litre of petrol.
This helps explain why drivers in the UK pay more at the pumps than nearly all of their European neighbours.
The uphill struggle drivers face to pay for petrol has led to claims that there will be an increase in people leaving their cars behind and opting for alternative, cheaper modes of transport.
Some even see this as a positive, pointing out that a reduction in cars on the road will be better for the environment.
However, many more are cynical about the motivation behind the price rises, viewing increasing costs as another way to fleece money from the public – especially from those in rural areas, who have no other option but to take the car when they need to get about.
We took to the streets of Glasgow to gauge your opinions on the rising cost of fuel.
Pump it up – price hike leaves some readers in a four-star fury
MARK REILLY, 60, accountant, Glasgow: “The price rises are just ridiculous. I already leave the car at home because of the general cost of driving, and I think these latest rises are just sheer profiteering.”
GORDON SPECK, 60, retired, Greenock: “If I can use public transport I will, but most of the time I’ll just use the car for convenience. But if the price of petrol keeps going up I might need to buy a smaller car.”
HELEN EWINGS, 65, retired, Calton: “It’s strange that when the cost of barrels go down we don’t see much change in price at the pumps. If prices keep rising I’d need to consider the cost of public transport.”
STEVEN TURNER, 50, civil servant, Glasgow: “I’m fed up with the constant price rises but driving is the only way I can get to work. It’s ridiculous, as the majority of the cost is made up of taxes.”
GRAHAM DALRYMPLE, 25, charity worker, Paisley: “I’d cycle to work if it wasn’t for the weather and the poor cycling lanes. In other countries cycling is encouraged but here you’ve not got much choice but to drive.”
ALAN FALCONER, 27, student, Glasgow: “I don’t think the price rises will stop people from driving but I think they’ll just have to pay more, like what happened with the rise in alcohol prices.”
TRACEY ALBADRAN, 41, housewife, Burnside: “I’d consider public transport if it was cheaper, but it’s probably no less to take the train than the car. It’s also less convenient, so there’s no incentive.”
ALISON RICHIE, 50, receptionist, Paisley: “The price rises do discourage me but I’d still take the car when I go out. There’s not much you can do, except maybe doubling up with someone and taking one car instead of two.”
