Article: $1.75 a litre? No thanks, we'll take the bus

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From Brisbanetimes click here!

$1.75 a litre? No thanks, we'll take the bus

$1.75 a litre? No thanks, we'll take the bus
Jessica Marszalek | April 23, 2008 - 3:05PM

A new survey has found stark differences between how high a price motorists in NSW and Queensland are prepared to pay for petrol.

One in three Queensland motorists would give up their cars and catch public transport to work if petrol prices hit $1.75 a litre, while NSW drivers would endure the pain well beyond that, according to the survey.

Car insurance company Budget Direct interviewed 2,500 motorists in a nationwide petrol price survey to ask what price would prove too much for them.

While 30 per cent of Queensland commuters said they would garage their cars in favour for public transport once prices reached $1.75 per litre, as many NSW drivers said prices would need to nudge $2.25 before they would consider giving up their wheels.

The survey found 47 per cent of motorists had already reduced their car use because of skyrocketing petrol prices.

Half of respondents said they would consider trading their current vehicle in for a more fuel-efficient model and seven per cent have already done so.

Associate director for Budget Direct Jonathan Kerr said if petrol prices continued to rise forcing more people onto public transport, the current Queensland commuter crush would get a lot worse once prices hovered around $1.75 per litre.

The cheapest fuel in Brisbane today was $1.26 a litre, while Sydney's best price was $1.35.

"It looks like prices at the pump are likely to continue their upward trend, which may well force more motorists to rely on a public transport system that is already close to capacity," Mr Kerr said.

Meanwhile, the survey showed about 37 per cent of motorists in Queensland, Victoria and NSW were happy to pay current prices because they liked their cars so much.

AAP