Service Station Prices 200% Higher

Research by road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has revealed that many motorway service areas are charging up to four times the high street price for basic food & drink. A 500ml bottle of water was found to cost £2.09 on average, compared to just 95p on a London high street, for example.

Having such a monopoly on British highways is likely to be the blame for such high prices, with petrol also being affected – with one service station in particular charging up to 12p more per litre than a local competitor.

Major motorway services operator, Welcome Break, is reported as referring to the research as “unfair”, saying: "A more relevant comparison would be an airport, railway station or department store restaurant, where our prices would compare favourably".

The statement goes on to say: “In setting our prices, we have to consider that we provide a large number of services 24 hours and for every day of the year. This is an expensive cost to us".

Following the research, the IAM is calling for a full review of motorway prices, encouraging the UK to take a leaf out of France’s book by forcing service stations to display their competitors prices. This is hoped to have a positive affect by driving costs down.

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