Calls for motorway speed limit to be cut to 64mph to tackle oil crisis

A ban on Sunday driving is another of the suggestions put forward to deal with the crisis

There are calls for the motorway speed limit to be reduced to 64mph in order to tackle the growing oil crisis. Along with soaring energy bills, the price of oil is also rising to record levels, hitting motorists at the pump and fuelling the cost of living crisis. To help combat this, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has put forward 10 measures that it says could cut global oil demand by 2.7million barrels per day within four months. This would help control stock levels and prices, the Mirror reports. Along with the suggestion that the motorway speed limit should be cut by at least 6mph (10kph), the IEA has also proposed the introduction of car-free Sundays in major cities. The Paris-based energy group, which represents 29 nations, says cutting highway limits by 10kmh worldwide could save around 290,000 barrels per day from cars and an additional 140,000 from trucks. https://twitter.com/IEA/status/1506220404926464002 Among the other measures proposed by the IEA to tackle rising oil prices are for people to work from home three days a week where possible and for the use of public transport to be made cheaper. Petrol prices continue to reach record levels in the UK. On Sunday, petrol hit a new high of 156p per litre with diesel reaching 179p per litre. On Wednesday, Rishi Sunak will be giving his Spring Statement and is expected to announce that fuel duty will be cut by 5p per litre. This would reduce it from 57.95p to 52.95p paid on every litre. But critics say this will disproportionately benefit the wealthiest in society, as wealthier households are more likely to drive and own larger cars that consume more petrol and diesel, the Guardian reports. The full list of proposed measures is as follows:

1. Reduce speed limits on highways by at least 10 km/h (6mph)
2. Work from home up to three days a week where possible
3. Car-free Sundays in cities
4. Make use of public transport cheaper and incentivise micromobility, walking and cycling
5. Alternate private car access to roads in large cities
6. Increase car sharing and adopt practices to reduce fuel use
7. Promote efficient driving for freight trucks and delivery of goods
8. Using high-speed and night trains instead of planes where possible
9. Avoid business air travel where alternative options exist
10. Reinforce the adoption of electric and more efficient vehicles

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