AN increasing number of drivers are ``running on empty'' due to high petrol and diesel costs.Breakdown service Green Flag reported a 40% increase in its number of fuel-related call-outs in the second half of January, compared with the same period last month.A survey by the company showed that 48% of drivers had been dangerously close to empty or broke down before reaching the pumps at some point in their lifetime.More than a third of these incidents occured in the last three months during a period when the price of petrol at the pumps has reached record levels.The poll also showed that more than 30% of drivers had cut down on their motoring to offset rising fuel prices.But only 4% had taken up car-sharing and only 6% had bought a more fuel-efficient car.Of the 2,110 adults surveyed, those from Northern Ireland had the most fuel-related breakdowns, while younger drivers were the ones most likely to run out of petrol.Dan Robinson, head of Green Flag, said: ``There is no hiding from the fact that the constant rises in fuel are affecting drivers nationwide, with almost half now driving on empty.''
40% increase in number of drivers ``running on empty''