Survey: How High Would Fuel Prices Have to Go for Latvians to Drive Less?

The Latvian television channel TV3 and its programme "900 sekundes" carried out a survey in Latvia to find out at what fuel price drivers would change their travel habits and use their cars less often. The survey covered drivers who travel by personal car at least once a week. The results show how sensitive motorists are to a possible rise in fuel prices.

What the results show

One in five respondents, or 21%, said they would start driving less if the price of a litre of fuel reached 2.00 euros. At 2.23 euros per litre, 12% of drivers would do so, and at 2.50 euros per litre, 14%.

Higher prices would affect a smaller share of respondents. At 2.75 euros per litre, 4% of drivers said they would be ready to use their personal car less, and at 3.00 euros the figure was 5%. The same share, 5%, would drive less if fuel cost more than 3.00 euros per litre.

Those who would not change habits

Almost a quarter of drivers (24%) who use a personal car at least once a week said the fuel price would not change how often they travel by car. Another 15% of drivers gave no specific answer to the question.

The source does not state when the survey was conducted or how many people took part, so the results are best seen as an indicative look at how motorists view rising fuel prices.