Motorists are being warned about long delays on major routes today.

Protesters are staging ‘drive slows’ as a protest against the high price of fuel in the UK.  Prices at the pumps continue to break records with prices for diesel over £2 per litre on some forecourts. This a rise from around £1.20 per litre just six months ago.

Highway of hurt

The M4 and M5 motorways are currently facing the brunt of the protests. These are being organised by Fuel Price Stand Against Tax.

A bridge between England and Wales is one of the main roads being targeted in the go-slow protest. Gwent Police said it was experiencing delays in both directions along that stretch of the M4.

Meanwhile, Devon and Cornwall Police said a slow-driving convoy set off from Exeter services along the M5 on Monday morning, as well as another along the A38.

Protesters are believed to be targeting mainly three-lane motorways and aiming to slow down two lanes, while leaving the fast one free. However, other protest have been springing up.

Drivers have been warned to reconsider their journeys and remain at home if possible.

Records broken

Data firm Experian shows the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts has hit 191.5p and 199.0p for diesel. However, according to Simon Williams, RAC fuel spokesman, wholesale prices have actually been falling in recent weeks. These falls are still to be replicated on forecourts who state they have to buy supplies in advance and are still being delivered higher priced stocks.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said he will carefully consider calls for a “more substantial” fuel duty cut. In March he announced a  5p per litre reduction that failed to halt price rises.

Rising fuel prices have been powered by the war in Ukraine. Russia is one of the world’s largest oil exporters and particularly important of diesel supplies in Europe. Sanctions placed on Russia have severely curtailed available supplies.

The government has said while it understands people are struggling with rising prices. At the same time, while protesting is a right, the government states  that “people’s day-to-day lives should not be disrupted”. Furthermore, traffic delays “will only add to fuel use”.

Navigating forward

Howard Cox, founder of campaign group FairFuelUK, said other countries had cut fuel duty more than the UK. The group is calling for a reduction of at least 20p.

While FairFuelUK is not involved in the protests he said there was an appetite for them. He warns that if the government did not deliver on the issue there could be “some serious escalation of protests”.