Kids cost parent taxi-drivers dear

6 May 2010 11:07 AM

Mums & Dads are clocking up 2,000 miles per year taxi-ing their kids on the school run and to after-school and weekend activities, AA Financial Services has found.

An AA/Populus poll of 2,128 AA members who have schoolchildren* showed that the average family is spending over £340 a year on fuel just taking their kids to school and elsewhere. Some parents (11%) travel up to 4,000 miles per year, forking out a whopping £687 on fuel.

With the cost of fuel set to continue rising, the average UK family's school run fuel bill is likely to jump up by around £60 a year – and over double that for some.

The poll also showed that 10% of parents with children regularly take their children to school and after-school activities by car.

Comment

Mark Huggins, director of AA Financial Services says: "Many families can make economies in their weekly outgoings but they are stuck with essential driving such as the school run and have to fork out for ever more costly fuel.

"Although the AA lobbies the Government and the fuel industry it's hard to keep prices in check, the latest increase in fuel duty, on top of underlying fuel price rises, just piles on the £'s for parents."

* AA/Populus survey of 2,128 AA Members that regularly take their children to school and to after-school activities. Research was conducted between 16th and 23rd February 2010.