UK motorists are battling against some of the most expensive petrol and diesel costs in Europe as experts call on motorists to do what they can to keep costs low.
According to new research from RAC Fuel Watch, diesel drivers are being hammered at the pumps, with average costs of around £1.46 per litre, making it the third most expensive country.
Only two countries are more expensive, namely Ireland and Denmark, with prices of £1.49 and £1.50 respectively.
Motorists in the UK are paying almost 50p per litre more than those in Malta, while drivers in Bulgaria are paying around 36p less for their fuel.
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Diesel prices in the UK are among some of the highest in Europe
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While petrol prices remain high in the UK, it still ranks behind nine other countries, with the average unleaded vehicle driver paying 139p per litre.
Drivers in Denmark are hammered the hardest by average costs across Europe, with the most expensive petrol and diesel costs, at 163p and 150p respectively.
Bulgaria and Malta also rank among the cheapest places for unleaded alongside Cyprus (120p), the Czech Republic (120p) and Poland (122p).
Dan Jones, operations manager at TrackDays.co.uk, said: “Diesel drivers are really feeling the squeeze when filling up.
“The UK’s unwanted position in the top five costliest countries for diesel in Europe places us above other European powerhouses such as France and Germany.”
Jones called on motorists to take action themselves to reduce their fuel bills, including keeping their tyres at the correct pressure.
By doing so, it will reduce rolling resistance, with the expert adding that keeping a steady pace when accelerating will also remove any unnecessary strain on the engine.
With warm weather around the corner, drivers have been urged to heed advice before going on long trips in the sunny weather.
When travelling at around 45mph, using the air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by around 10 per cent, with the air con being better suited for higher speeds.
Meanwhile, travelling at 45mph with the windows open can boost fuel consumption by as much as 20 per cent, with windows being more effective at lower speeds.
The RAC recently predicted that prices could fall in the coming months as the wholesale price of oil drops around the world to around $70 (£54.08).
If oil were to fall below this level, drivers could potentially see prices drop towards 130p per litre for petrol and 140p for diesel.
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The RAC notes that prices are already much lower in Northern Ireland, with drivers paying just 132p for unleaded and 137.8p for diesel.
This has been put down to increased competition between supermarkets and major retailers thanks to the Consumer Council Fuel Price Checker which shows drivers the cheapest and most expensive fuel costs across the country.
