It is a process that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago: Despite its name, the General German Automobile Club (ADAC) is opposed to a continuation or repetition of the tank discount and instead advocates a cheap and nationwide valid ticket for the tank local transport.
The basis for these recommendations is a survey that is representative of both ADAC members and the general population. It revealed that fewer people gave up driving in the summer than in the spring.
The auto club believes that there are several reasons for this: People have “got used to the high fuel prices to some extent,” said ADAC transport president Gerhard Hillebrand. In addition, the summer months are travel and excursion months.
Nevertheless, one cannot avoid noticing that the fuel discount, due to its price-lowering effect, has led to more vehicles being driven again. “It’s clear that fossil fuel consumption needs to go down,” Hillebrand said. “The tank discount may make sense from a consumer perspective, but it doesn’t stand up to closer scrutiny.”
Instead, the state must choose other, better relief methods. The ADAC, for example, is in favor of a higher commuter allowance from the first kilometer, because this is paid regardless of the chosen means of transport and subsidizes the way to work, not leisure trips. A continuation of the tank discount, on the other hand, is “a wrong signal” in times of climate change and scarce fossil fuels.
According to the ADAC, only 45 percent of those surveyed in the survey in August stated that they occasionally gave up their car to save energy or costs during the current tank discount. In the spring, the value was slightly higher at 49 percent. In addition, slightly fewer respondents stated that they drive more proactively and more fuel-efficiently because of the high petrol prices.
The ADAC, on the other hand, rated the 9-euro ticket for local transport more positively. Significantly more respondents (21 percent) stated in the summer that they use public transport more frequently, compared to just 14 percent in the spring.
42 percent of drivers also said that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the 9-euro ticket. 49 percent of users of the 9-euro ticket stated that they had had positive or rather positive experiences with local public transport.
The automobile club therefore advocated a local transport ticket for the future that is valid nationwide and therefore easy to use. More important than the price, however, is that the offer is improved, i.e. investments are made in the capacities of local public transport.
For example, a nationwide valid 69-euro ticket could make sense, as suggested by the Association of Transport Companies (VDV). “ADAC considers it essential that mobility remains affordable for everyone,” said Hillebrand.
According to the ADAC, the fuel discount was only partially passed on to motorists by the petroleum companies in the three months. “We have high expectations of the cartel office’s investigation results,” said Hillebrand.
The Federal Ministry of Economics must then quickly draw conclusions from the results of the investigation by the antitrust authorities. As early as the end of August, prices at the petrol pumps can be seen to rise again. “The petroleum industry has already created a price cushion again,” said the ADAC transport president.
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