CHANCELLOR George Osborne has decided to delay the planned rise in fuel duty in January but nevertheless high prices at the pumps remain an ever increasing proportion of the cost of running a vehicle.
What is clear is that high prices are changing behaviour, in many respects forcing private consumers to act more like well run company vehicle fleets when it comes to managing the cost of running the family car.
Research from British Car Auctions (BCA) shows that fuel prices are encouraging up to half of drivers to investigate downsizing their car to something more affordable while there are large groups that are thinking of hanging up their keys altogether and will look for alternative means of transport.
Now in one respect, this shows that the current tax policy is hitting the mark for the government when it comes to reducing environmental damage.
Trading down, or out of cars altogether, reduces pollution levels and with the full range of vehicle taxes focused on the environment it is a big tick in the box and is in effect getting private drivers to make the same kind of tax based decisions business drivers have been making for many years.
So if business fleet practices work to reduce company costs then why not with a single car?
Having a clear budget and looking to minimise all elements of cost can certainly help to insulate against ever rising fuel prices.
Efficient driving techniques, cutting out unnecessary journeys, carefully planning routes and in particular making sure you buy well can all have a positive impact.
In effect we all need to become our own personal fleet manager.
Mike Waters is director of market insight at Arval, Europe's leading operational leasing and fuel management company.