7:59 pm, June 5, 2008
THE exorbitant cost of fuel and new Government rules seem to be hitting the sales of 4x4s. New registrations of off roaders last month dipped 18 per cent compared with May 2007, according to the SMMT’s latest figures.
Big Government increases in road tax for gas-guzzling vehicles such as 4x4s have been the subject of much debate in recent weeks at a time when petrol and diesel prices at the pumps are at record highs.
The 4×4 dip in sales contributed to an overall drop of 3.5 per cent in total new vehicle registrations last month, while supermini and diesel sales benefited from fuel price concerns with registrations up 12 per cent and 8.4 per cent respectively.
Meanwhile, the BBC News website has reported that hundreds of motorbike riders protesting against high fuel prices caused delays on motorways outside Manchester.
The protest, which included some other vehicles, left Birch services just after 8am today on junction 18 of the M62, to head into the city centre. Rolling-roadblocks were used to lessen delays, but traffic backed up behind the convoy on the M60.
Greater Manchester Police said a ‘small number’ of lorry drivers were warned by police for driving too slow.
