Heels & Horsepower Magazine

AA Says Fuel Price Crises Needs To Be Addressed

By H&H Admin

Government needs to find a definitive solution to the ever-increasing fuel costs; and they need to do so quickly.

The Automobile Association (AA), says Government must act quickly to find ways to mitigate against rising fuel costs which are negatively impacting on all consumers in the country.  One way to do this is through a review of the current fuel pricing model.

“Our economy is closely linked to the fuel price; it is a major input cost in the manufacturing, retailing and agricultural sectors. We have noted before that a review of the current structure of the fuel price, as well as an audit of all the elements which comprise the fuel price, should be done sooner rather than later. We therefore call on the Minister of Finance to initiate such a review during his Budget Speech on 23 February,” says the AA.

In addition, the Association again urges the Minister not to increase the fuel levies which are part of the fuel price.

“We know all too well of the economic challenges facing the country, and of the importance of the revenue raised through the two main levies. We are also aware that, as was the case last year, delivering a Budget in the current economic environment is tricky and difficult and that the pressure to ease government’s financial burden is immense. However, increasing the levels of the General Fuel and Road Accident levies will be counter-productive as this will impact mostly on the poorest of the poor,” says the Association.

The General Fuel Levy is currently pegged at R3.93 per litre (up from R3.77 in 2021) and the RAF levy at R2.18 per litres (up from R2.07 in 2021). Combined they add R6.11 to every litre of petrol and diesel sold in the country. Any adjustments announced by the Minister in the February Budget Speech are implemented annually in April.

Neighbouring countries who buy fuel directly from South Africa do not add these taxes to their fuel pricing, making their fuels cheaper than it is in the country which supplies them.

2021 saw fuel prices reach record levels and they are again touching those levels despite a decrease to fuel prices in January. The Association says any adjustments to the collection rates of these levies will have severe consequences for consumers and they should not be altered.

“Our country faces enormous and complex economic challenges. High fuel prices are adding to these challenges and instead of accepting the current model, we must seek solutions that benefit consumers, not place them in more financial distress. One immediate solution for us, for instance, is to review the funding of the poorly managed Road Accident Fund (RAF). Our reliance on the RAF is a direct result of South Africa’s poor road safety and that’s where more attention needs to be given for a long-term solution,” urges the AA.

Source: The Automobile Association of South Africa

4 Ways to Beat Rising Fuel Prices

South Africans are facing one of their largest increases to fuel prices yet after petrol increased by 91c per litre and diesel by 55c per litre on Wednesday 4 August 2021.

It has already been a tough year for South Africans and motorists who now have to fork out much more for fuel than ever before. The fuel price increase come on the heels of a difficult economic situation due to lockdown and because of recent unrest.

The best way to reduce petrol consumption is to change your mindset which in turn will affect your driving attitude for the better. Here with a few tips to help you readjust your driving habits and save fuel.

1.       Anticipate conditions

Adopt a defensive driving style so you can anticipate changing traffic conditions before they happen. You should drive looking 12 seconds ahead of you. This will allow you to see traffic slowing ahead of you or traffic light changes well before they happen; allowing you to timeously adjust your own speed to avoid coming to a complete or sudden stop.

2.       Do not speed

Drive at speeds that suit the current conditions and avoid speeding. Reducing speed by 20kph in certain instances can reduce fuel consumption by 20%. Often speed is also accompanied by fast lane changes, sudden acceleration and harsh braking. Not only does this increase fuel consumption but it also costs you more in maintenance. Increasing your speed will only make minimal, if any, difference to trip times.

3.       Plan ahead

Plan each journey to save fuel. It can help you avoid traffic jams; help you choose the most fuel-efficient routes and avoid leaving too little time. It will also help you avoid rushing which makes driving fuel efficiently almost impossible.

4. Drive nicely 

As mentioned already, inconsiderate driving increases fuel consumption. This includes unnecessary lane changes, harsh acceleration and speeding. Instead, keep to the road rules and follow techniques such as keeping your engine revs between 2500 and 3000rpm. This can result in a saving of up to 20% in fuel consumption.

Use fuel-savings tips to reduce the impact of high fuel prices and get the most out of each full tank.

Source: MasterDrive

Are You Ready for the New Fuel Prices?

The Department of Energy has published the latest fuel price adjustments for July 2021, showing a hike in prices across the board.

This is how fuel prices will change from midnight on Wednesday, 7 July 2021:

  • Petrol 95: increase of 26 cents per litre;
  • Petrol 93: increase of 29 cents per litre;
  • Diesel 0.05%: increase of 42 cents per litre;
  • Diesel 0.005%: increase of 41 cents per litre;
  • Illuminating Paraffin: increase of 36 cents per litre.

Tips to Stay Ahead of Fuel Price Hikes

With the fuel price in South Africa hovering at an all-time high, most drivers are open to any suggestions on how to get a little bit more from their tank.

With the fuel price in South Africa hovering at an all-time high, most drivers are open to any suggestions on how to get a little bit more from their tank. While it seems motorists might get some relief from these record-high prices in June 2021, it is always worthwhile driving as fuel efficiently as possible.

Here are five tips to make your tank go quite a bit further.

1. Plan your travelling

One of the best ways to save fuel is to drive less. This can be done by proper planning, for example instead of going to the mall every day, rather allocate a bit more time and go once a week. If you need to travel a fair distance for appointments, try to group them with other stops that you need to make in the same area. Where possible avoid rush hour, as travelling during peak hour means a long journey in terms of time and your car will use more fuel. Leaving timeously will also mean you are less rushed and driving in a relaxed manner is a sure way of saving fuel.

2. Change your driving style

The way you drive is the biggest contributor to the amount of fuel it uses. Avoid speeding between intersections and excessively revving your vehicle. A smooth, gradual, acceleration technique is the most economical way to drive, as is maintaining a constant speed on the highway and sticking to the speed limit.

3. Limit your use of the air conditioning

Your car’s air conditioner can contribute as much as 5% to your fuel bill, especially when stationary. It is a good idea to turn it off when you are standing still and switch it back on once you are up to speed.

4. Check your tyre pressures regularly

Underinflated tyres are a huge contributor to unnecessary fuel consumption. Tyres should be checked regularly and inflated according to the manufacturer’s specifications for the amount of load you are carrying. The correct pressures are normally found in the doorframe or fuel flap of your vehicle or in the owner’s manual.

5. Lose that extra weight

Extra weight in your vehicle will also push up its fuel consumption, therefore you should avoid any unnecessary weight by removing non-essential items. The same goes for unnecessary accessories like roof racks and bicycle carriers that not only add weight but also disrupt the aerodynamic properties of your vehicle.

While these tips will go a long way in saving you a few Rands, having the right vehicle for the job is the easiest way to save money. If you happen to be car-shopping, investing in a smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle is the easiest way to save money.

Grim fuel outlook continues for South African motorists

Fuel levy increases at a difficult time in the country’s economy will contribute to what are expected to be extremely high fuel price increases at the end of March going into April 2021. These increases will exacerbate the already dire financial position many South Africans find themselves in.

The Association says steepening climbs in international petroleum prices are being worsened by a dipping Rand/US dollar exchange rate, painting a grim picture for local fuel prices. The forecasted increases are worrying and could have a severe impact on an economy already reeling from a number of negative factors namely corruption, over-spending on the civil service, and the largest contraction in a century.

“As things stand today, petrol is set for a 90 cents-a-litre rise, diesel for an increase of 66 cents, and illuminating paraffin an increase of 62 cents,” the AA says.

These expected increases do not include the 26-cents a litre increases to the General Fuel and Road Accident Fund levies (excluding the one cent increase to Carbon Tax) announced by the Minister of Finance in his February Budget, which come into effect in April.

Within the current scenario with the addition of the levies, petrol is expected to increase by a whopping R1.16 a litre and diesel by 92-cents a litre.

With the expected increases factored in, a litre of 95 ULP Inland (currently at R16.32/l) will now cost R17.48/l of which R6.10 will be taxed through the GFL and RAF. This means that at least 35% of the cost of a litre of this petrol will be taxed. The price of diesel (currently pegged at R14.12/l) will increase to R15.04 of which R5.96 (including increased levies) will be taxed – or at least 40% of the total cost.

Petrol is set for a 90 cents-a-litre rise, diesel for an increase of 66 cents…

Automobile Association (AA)

The Association says that either the Rand or international oil prices will require a sharp reversal if the picture is not to deteriorate further by month-end.

“The rampant upward march of international oil prices has quickened alarmingly in the first weeks of March. The basic fuel price for petrol, for instance, shot up from R6.55 a litre at the February close-out, to R7.40 a litre in the first two weeks of March.

Over the same period, the average Rand/US dollar exchange rate weakened by about 30 cents,” notes the AA.

Fuel Price Increase July

South African motorists will be hit with another hefty fuel price hike in July, effectively wiping out most of the fuel price relief that lockdown brought.

Commenting on unaudited month-end data, the Automobile Association is predicting a petrol price increase of R1.73 a litre from next Wednesday, July 1, while diesel is set to go up by R1.74 a litre and illuminating paraffin by R2.14.

The latest increase will drive the price of 95 Unleaded petrol up to R14.43 per litre at the coast and R15.13 inland, where the cheaper 93 ULP grade will rise to around R14.93. This is just 78 cents less per litre than this year’s price peak of R15.71 for 93 ULP just before lockdown.

This means a tank of petrol will cost between R52 and R130 more, depending on what car you drive.