Duty is fixed per litre of fuel, so does not rise every time the underlying price of oil does. What is fundamentally crooked is that the government charge VAT on the duty as well as the fuel. Taxing a tax seems wrong?

Dickie D, Cardiff, UK

I am afraid that a reduction in fuel demand, in the absense of a supply hike is a prerequisite of oil price falling.
Nothing to fear, Just nature working in all its savage wonder.

Mike, Tauranga, New Zealand

This is fine for those people who live close to local facilities and have alternate means of transport. Unfortunately the poor and those living in rural areas tend to have neither, so continue to pay ridiculous amounts of tax.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

My answer to the rising price of fuel was to buy a big diesel car. instead of two small petrol ones as it uses less fuel than the two. it costs so much to fill my big car with fuel that have been forced to cut my mileage. So I shop local; use a bus where I can, and walk more. Saving a packet.

albert hall, hove, england

Interesting. I assume some of the people taking fewer journeys are the ones who vociferously complained that they couldn't possibly manage without their cars and that they already only used the car for absolutely essential trips. Funny that.

Sean , London,

When we planned for a new flat some years ago, we purposely purchased one close to a large shopping centre. So we walk and carry!

John, Stockholm, Sweden

well one thing is definite. this oil price increase shall definitely make families realzie how to spend money wisely.
we shall see one thing now...the school run being on foot

mark, leeds, uk

I have seen little evidence of drivers reducing their motorway speeds to achieve better fuel economy!

David, Southampton, UK

Why is this being presented as bad news? It is the best thing that could have happened to ur health, our communities & the planet. More exercise, more public transport use, more local shopping in real town centres instead of vast malls, less carbon emissions. Hooray!

Anne, Toulouse, France

Think about it, every time fuel goes up at the pumps so does the duty. Were the government to cap the duty then they would still get the same revenue as at the lower pump rate. But no, up goes the duty in relation to pump price, Motorists spend less, duty revenue goes down another hole to plug = TAX

Mark Hulton, Stoke on Trent,

There is a deeper problem here in that a lot of fuel is being purchased by credit card and unlikely to be repaid due to the squeeze.
This an ideal time for Gordon Brown to reduce the tax on fuel, but no, all he talks about is postponing increases,
How much longer can he hang on?

V Cooper, Yeovil, UK

Oil prices have doubled in 12 months so someone is seriously distorting the markets as there has definitely not been a doubling of requirements.

The government should look at the stock exchange to see who is profiting and how they are manipulating the markets.

joe, Edinburgh, Scotland

What is Luke Bosdet, the AA public affairs spokesman, on about ? The article points out that people now appear to walk to local shops rather than drive to out of town malls. It presents no evidence that people are spending less on the 'high street' or on UK holidays. Just more car lobby rubbish.

Duncan Robertson, Edinburgh, Scotland

People having to walk to local shops instead of sitting in a car. This is the best thing that can happen to them to change their unhealthy ilfestyles. Maybe even the kids will start walking or cycling to school as well. Good heavens, in a few years the level of obesity may even reduce in the UK.

david franks, Chonburi, Thailand

Those manipulating the oil price control all commodity prices, inflation and interest rates. Oil trading should be restricted to underlying users and those Investment Banks and hedge funds abusing and distorting market prices should be put out of business.

Will, Lincoln, UK