Research from over 8,000 of Regit's motorists has shown that over 71% believe panic buyers are the cause of the shortages that have impacted drivers across the country over the last week.
And, with no signs that the problem will be solved soon, 63% of the British public also believe the media are to blame.
Boris Johnson (21%) and Brexit (29%) are deemed by many to not be a cause of the crisis while just 8% of people believe Covid is a contributing cause.
Of those surveyed, 31% said they have been unable to buy fuel in the last seven days despite needing to and 15% have admitted to panic buying fuel despite not needing to.
Boris hasn’t been let off the hook completely, however, with the majority of British motorists (64%) believing he needs to do more to fix the crisis, while 35% think the same of fuel companies and 29% would like HGV companies to do more.
A whopping 86% of motorists surveyed think it’s unfair that people have been allowed to stockpile fuel, with images circulating widely on social media of people filling fuel cans once they had topped the tanks in their car.
Many supermarkets have now brought in limits to help tackle that problem but it’s clear there is frustration amongst the public this was allowed to happen.
The fuel crisis has also made it more likely for 19% of motorists that they would consider an electric vehicle for their next car.
See what happens next in our report here.
Regit’s founder and CCO, Chris Green, said: “It’s clear that our motorists are essentially blaming panic buyers themselves and the hysteria some media outlets have created as the primary source of the fuel crisis. I’m sure those opposed to Boris Johnson and Brexit will feel an added sense of frustration here.
“However, as we saw with toilet roll back in the first lockdown, there is no doubt that scenarios like this simply snowball and ultimately pleas from key figures in government to urge people not to panic buy will likely have the opposite effect.
“With almost 20% saying this crisis would make it more likely they make the switch to electric vehicles for their next car, it’s scandalous that an opportunity of this size to help reduce emissions will not be able to be taken as a result of the distinct lack of infrastructure for millions of motorists around the country. The fact of the matter still stands that, if you don’t have private off-street parking, an electric vehicle simply isn’t attainable and decision makers from all parties across the country are seemingly blissfully ignorant of that fact.”
Thanks to everyone who took part in the survey. The winner of the £50 Amazon voucher has been contacted.
