The AA calls for government action on petrol prices

Harley Davidson insurance customer may have to restrict the number of rides they take this year, as petrol prices are approaching £1.20 per litre, the AA claims.

European wholesale petrol costs have escalated by 17 per cent since late January, and pump prices are now beginning to threaten record high reached in July 2008, the motoring organisation claims.

Now the AA wants the government to investigate the cause of the rise, as the weaker pound and the proposed increase of 3p on fuel duty and VAT from April 1st aggravate the issue further.

AA's president Edmund King said: "Political parties have started to jump on the bandwagon of high fuel prices, calling for a fuel price/tax stabiliser.

"In the AA's opinion, the easiest and quickest stabiliser would be to freeze the fuel duty increase on April 1st."

If professional drivers and those on lower incomes were struggling to afford high prices back in July 2008, before the recession began, there is even less chance they will be able to now, Mr King added.

The average pump price currently stands at £1.16 per litre for unleaded petrol, while some areas of London are already up to £1.24 per litre, according to price comparison site petrolprices.com.

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