NEW research suggests that UK fleets are becoming increasingly complacent about fuel prices.

Fleet and fuel management company Arval claims in 2006 only 9% of fleets moved to redirect their drivers from expensive outlets, such as motorway service stations, to more cost effective stations such as supermarkets.

This figure was 21% in 2005. It found that fleets appear not to be incentivising fuel efficient driving by moving away from offering corporate gifts or extra holiday.

Mike Waters, head of market analysis at Arval commented on the findings: ‘These are worrying results which suggest that fleets have got over the initial shock of high fuel prices and fuel complacency has set in.’

A separate report produced by the AA shows that average UK petrol prices have gone up by almost 3.5 pence per litre in the past month as supermarkets allowed their forecourt prices to move closer to those of other retailers.