12 June 2007
External pressures, including the government's recent budget, the rising costs of running a car and the financial penalties of driving a gas-guzzler are forcing Britain's drivers to go green, according to the Co-operative Financial Services (CFS).
Duncan Bowker, Public Relations Manager for the firm, said that while drivers were certainly becoming more environmentally aware about the effects of their cars, it was other influences on their daily lives which were forcing them to change their driving habits.
"There are less and less incentives for people to go out and buy the non-eco vehicles. There are going to be more financial incentives for people to buy eco vehicles," he continued.
"I think what you'll see now is that more and more insurers and financial service providers will be looking at ways in which they can actually integrate eco-products through their portfolio."
Mr Bowker also commented on the fact that with some insurers, going green is costing the consumer no more than taking out standard car insurance premiums. He believed this was important as many motorists were still not interested in being environmentally-friendly and so it was important for insurers not to alienate their sizeable customer-base.
"Let's be frank here; not everybody is turned on to eco per se. There are pro-eco people and people against ecoIt's up to [insurers] to go through an education process where we make it clear to consumers that it is the way forwardpeople are going to have to address their carbon footprint," concluded Mr Bowker.
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