The task of heading to a petrol station to refuel causes anxiety for 39 percent of UK car drivers.
Anxiousness about refuelling is even greater among younger drivers, with almost two thirds (62 percent) of Gen Z-ers reporting their worries.
The new survey, commissioned by online car retailer Cazoo, questioned some 2,000 drivers about their feelings towards refuelling and petrol stations.
It uncovered that ‘refuel fear’ was surprisingly widespread. It had even caused some drivers to consider switching to an electric car to avoid dealing with petrol stations.
Female survey respondents were more likely to report anxiety at the thought of refuelling than men. Just under half (46 percent) of women said they had experienced ‘refuel fear’, compared to approximately a third (32 percent) of male drivers.
While Gen Z-ers (those born between 1997 and 2012) reported the highest level of ‘refuel fear’, only 18 percent of Baby Boomers (born from 1946 to 1964) said they had anxiety about petrol stations.
The leading cause of ‘refuel fear’ was the cost of petrol or diesel. This was a factor for almost half (49 percent) of those who said refuelling caused them anxiety.
Ensuring they get their car close enough to a pump was a worry for 40 percent, followed by concerns about queues (31 percent) and confusion about pump types (30 percent).
This anxiety has a genuine impact on drivers. Half of those anxious about refuelling admitted they had let their fuel tank run ‘dangerously low’ to avoid visiting a petrol station.
Even more worrying, almost a quarter (24 percent) said they had run out of fuel completely due to their level of anxiety.
A switch to an electric car could be the answer, though, with close to a third (31 percent) saying they would drive an EV to avoid petrol stations.
Cazoo’s Harry Waring commented: “Filling up may seem like a simple everyday task to many, but our research shows it’s a genuine source of anxiety for millions of drivers – particularly those that are younger or less experienced.
“It’s not just about the rising cost of fuel, but also confidence, social pressure and the fear of making a mistake in a public setting.”
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