Mike Rutherford's column

So what’s the problem? Johnny Foreigner has created a bit of an international oil crisis and us Brits are having to spend a few pounds more on petrol or diesel. It’s a pain, but we live in one of the richest countries in the world, so we can afford to pay extra at the pumps, can’t we?

If only life were that simple. Millions of people are struggling to find the cash to fuel their cars. More importantly, their lifestyles, working habits, freedoms and liberties are being seriously curtailed.

This energy crisis is about much more than us having to pay extra at the pumps. For many, expensive fuel dictates where they live, whether they’re employed and, in the case of some old couples, how they maintain their independence, dignity and reason for living.

These problems require massive solutions. So in an effort to ensure fuel isn’t wasted, drivers pay a fair price and we reduce our reliance on oil in future, here are 10 ways the Government, big business and citizens can do their bit to help us through the ongoing crisis:

The Treasury needs to embark on an initiative called ‘Enough is Enough’, and reduce – not eliminate – the billions it makes in fuel tax profits. A closely monitored standard rate across the European Community would help us and embarrass the greedy UK Government.

nCompanies could allow some of their employees to work from home, say, two days a week. For a driving commuter, personal fuel bills will slump 40 per cent. And the planet will have a little more fuel in reserve.

nCars capable of 60mpg-plus could be sold VAT-free. Some makers’ sales will rocket; others which haven’t taken mpg seriously will be forced to catch up or die.

nMany gas-guzzling buses must be taken off the road, particularly in the 18-20 hours out of every 24 when they are carrying few, if any, passengers. Keep them for morning and evening rush hours, but after that...

nOld, thirsty buses aren’t the answer for folk who want to potter around, particularly outside big cities, where most of us live. Fuel-sipping, 50mpg-plus people carriers are the solution. Let’s divert money from the ‘traditional’ bus firms’ colossal financial subsidies into efficient community MPVs.

nHand over the roads to the experts who understand them. We’ve paid for the network and own it. If we acquire it, we’d ensure that congestion is reduced and vehicles run more smoothly, thereby using much less juice. Simple.

Electric cars aren’t the solution, but they’re part of it – especially for commuters covering short distances. Incentivised home owners and employees could erect banks of solar panels to help fuel such cars.

More Government departments have to be transferred from cities to less populated areas. Result? The busiest roads and public transport systems would be partly freed-up. Private companies could qualify for grants to move.

Planning laws require a major overhaul to ensure that factories, offices, transport operators etc are located next to major junctions, enabling vehicles to be on the motorway or A-road one minute and inside the company car park the next. Trucks running empty should be discouraged, and then outlawed. If a load doesn’t exist, wait until it becomes available.

On an individual level, we all have an influence on what companies charge at the pumps – by boycotting those with the highest prices. In most cases, the supermarkets are cheapest and the major oil companies
the dearest. If we avoid them, inevitably their prices will fall.