Don't despair. Although fuel prices are at a shocking high, the AA has some advice for companies and motorists to help you reduce your fuel budget.

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Yet another fuel price increase has rocked South African motorists’ monthly budgets. According to the Automobile Association of SA (AA), the 61c increase on a litre of petrol and 78c on a litre of diesel that comes into effect today will raise motorists’ monthly fuel bills in the region of 8%.

“SA motorists are being forced to look closely at their travelling expenses in light of recent and further fuel price increases, not to mention the generally higher than expected inflation rate, interest rate hikes, and growing food costs,” says Gary Ronald, spokesperson of the AA. “The future doesn’t look bright either, with further increases expected due to the sliding rand and soaring oil prices that will no doubt also have an impact on inflation.”

But Ronald says consumers may have an opportunity to combat the increase thanks to the recent trend by business to adopt flexi-hours in the context of load shedding. “Avoiding peak hour traffic has the potential to put money back in your pocket that would otherwise burn into the atmosphere with your car idling in traffic,” says Ronald.

Stop/start driving is the worst case scenario for fuel consumption, not to mention the amount of time your vehicle stands idling. “We all know that our commute to the office takes over twice as long in peak hour as over the weekend, so why not go to work early or leave later if your employer allows the adoption of flexi hours.”

The AA has recently adopted flexi hours in its own business to combat the adverse affects of load shedding that will potentially begin to be felt again this month. “It is the only realistic way of maintaining productivity and is well-supported by today’s communication technologies,” maintains Ronald. “Now it could also have an impact on your commuting costs.”

Free-flowing traffic reduces the strain on your car’s engine and therefore returns better economy. Add to that the reduced running time and the fuel savings become very tangible, enough to combat the 8% increase you could otherwise expect to your monthly budget.