Motorists are staying at home because they fear they will run out of petrol, as record high fuel prices force drivers to avoid filling up their tanks.
Cash-strapped motorists are simply opting not to drive, according to statistics from the AA, the British motoring association, as the number of breakdowns has fallen substantially.
The number of emergency calls for people running out of fuel has fallen. The AA said many drivers were reducing the number of trips they make each week.
Call outs for drivers who had run out of diesel fell by 14pc in March compared to February, the firm said. Breakdowns among drivers who had run out of petrol fell by 8pc.
Research for the AA by Yonder consultants showed that many drivers fill up their tanks by a set amount. As prices rise they have purchased a smaller quantity of fuel, meaning many have stayed at home rather than risk running out during a journey.
About one in five drivers fill up their cars by a set cash amount, regardless of the price of the fuel. This figure jumped to 26pc amongst lower-income drivers.
