New research finds that drivers have a pessimistic view over how Brexit will affect motoring costs and safety but think there will be no changes in other areas such as fuel prices and emissions regulations.

Over 40% of IAM Roadsmart members surveyed said Brexit wouldn’t impact the UK’s ability to control pump prices

The survey carried out by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart amongst over 1,000 of its members between 27 June and 12 July found that nearly 50% said prices would rise. In contrast less than 4% said they would fall.

In terms of road safety, UK drivers and riders did not feel leaving the EU would change things for the better. Nearly 65% said there would be no difference, while 16% said road safety would deteriorate. Some 11% said road safety would improve.

When asked if the UK would have a better influence over other key issues affecting motorists and riders, again they were not convinced leaving the EU would improve the situation.

Slightly over 40% thought there would no change in the UK’s ability to control prices at the fuel pumps as a result of our exit. Again slightly over 40% thought there would be no change in vehicle emissions when we leave.

And more than half of those surveyed through there would no change in standards of driver and rider training and testing.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research, said: “It appears that UK motorists are not fully convinced that they will benefit from us leaving the EU. At the very best they feel nothing will change, but at worst they think they will lose out.

“Although our survey paints a rather downbeat picture of how UK motorists feel it does give us a strong remit to represent their needs as key Brexit issues are debated in the months ahead.

“Ensuring that past road safety and air quality gains are maintained will be a key challenge but we can now explore new ideas to regain the downward trend in road deaths and serious injuries on British roads.

“Ideas such as reduced VAT on safety kit, incentives for training and embedding good road safety practice into procurement rules are all now firmly back on the table. It’s an interesting time to be in road safety.”