Drive-Off Numbers Rocket as Petrol Costs Continue to Soar

The number of ‘drive-off’ incidents at UK petrol pumps has risen 61% in 12 months as the spiralling cost of fuel shows no signs of letting up.

Forecourt Eye – a company that digitally traces and tracks non-payers at more than 1,000 petrol stations – has figures that show an increase, in comparison to 2021, of over 60% in the number of people this year who have driven off from the pump without paying for the fuel taken.

Nick Fisher, chief executive of the firm, believes businesses face a loss of £25m if the trend continues over 12 months.

Gordon Balmer, Petrol Retailers Association Executive Director, said: “You’re looking at nearly £41m in terms of cost to industry of fuel either being stolen through drive-offs or people haven’t the means to pay.

“It’s a really difficult issue at the moment, and on the increase.”

The BBC is reporting a rise in verbal abuse of petrol station workers as irate motorists focus their frustration on staff for the cost of petrol, which has soared in recent months.

With a range of issues blamed for escalating costs, from the war in Ukraine to retailers being accused of not passing on cuts, it has left the motorist significantly out of pocket, with the average cost of filling up a car hitting £100 for the first time.

This paints a grim financial picture for drivers who, on a wider social scale, are already dealing with record rates of inflation and rising living costs with no end in sight.

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