Hot Cross Bums On Car Seats: Friday morning Easter rush

• 10:30 am Friday 6th April – “Easter rush hour commences”
• £145 million¹ to be spent on fuel, despite average journey being 90 miles
• Over 13 million people on UK roads this Easter
• Easter driving getaway to cost drivers £8 million more this year than last

Over 13 million (27%) people will be bumping up the milometer over Easter, reveals new research from Green Flag breakdown service. 10:30 am on Friday 6th April will be the peak time for “hot-cross-bums on car seats” as more people will be heading out at that time for their Easter break than at any other time over the long weekend.

With the threat of fuel delivery strikes receding for now, drivers in the UK have decided they will continue with their plans to get away for the long weekend, despite the pressure on fuel prices.

The average distance to be travelled per journey comes in at only 90 miles² and despite this, with average fuel prices at a depressing 139.48 pence per litre, Green Flag has established that the fuel cost of this Easter getaway will be an astonishing £145 million. The research also highlights the difference in petrol costs year on year, assuming the same number of people went away for Easter in 2011, nearly £8 million extra will be spent on fuel in 2012.

Miranda Schunke, spokesperson for Green Flag, said: “The roads are likely to be congested in popular spots around the country this Easter.  We analysed our research to establish the busiest time on the roads and with more people leaving at 10:30am on Friday than at any other time over the long weekend, we anticipate traffic around midday will be severe. With fuel costs remaining prohibitive for many household budgets, we wanted to highlight that with increased congestion, petrol consumption will need to be carefully managed.”

When the doom and gloom of returning to work comes round, the majority of people who have travelled away for Easter will try to time their return journey to avoid congestion (29%). Other factors that influence when to return home include the need to be back to put children to bed (11%) and wanting to watch ITV’s new blockbusting series Titanic (2%). Many also confessed they’ll go home because they will want to go to bed early, some to prepare for work and a few even admitted they’ll come back from their Easter break because they will miss the family pet.

Green Flag Regional Getaway Figures

Region  Average distance travelled this Easter (miles)  Fuel cost for travel per driver
London  80.9    £9.98  
Rest of South   94.8    £11.69 
Midlands  & Wales       80.9    £9.98  
North   88.6    £10.93 
Scotland        111.8   £13.79 
Source:  Green Flag

Ends

Notes to Editors:

1. Figure found using:

Ford Fiesta (UK’s most popular car) MPG @ 51.4mpg. Source: Good Car Bad Car - http://bit.ly/H8H0XZ 
Petrol Price taken from http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/source/prices/weeklyfuel.xls 
Workings are: “89.7 (av. Distance) / 51.4 (Mpg) X £6.34 (petrol price per gallon)” 
Multiplied by total people going away in their own car over Easter (13,134,844)

2.  Vision Critical Interviewed over 2,052 adults (18+) March 27^th- 28^th  2012, for Green Flag Breakdown

For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Miranda Schunke

Green Flag Press Office

Tel: 0208 313 5965

Mobile: 07766 472 690

Email: miranda.schunke@rbs.co.uk

Chris Wilson                    
Citigate Dewe Rogerson 
Tel: 0207 282 1087 
Email: christopher.wilson@citigatedr.co.uk

Green Flag

With over 40 years experience, Green Flag provides customers with breakdown cover 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Customers have access to a network of breakdown operators across the UK and mainland Europe.

Green Flag is part of RBS Insurance, which is wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Customers can find out more about Green Flag products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 1557, connecting via the Green Flag Rescue Me Application, or visitingwww.greenflag.com

Green Flag Motoring Assistance is underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales no 1179980. U K Insurance Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

END

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