UK emergency fuel plans revealed – from 50mph speed limit to fuel rationing

Government contingency plans designed to help the UK deal with potential diesel shortages could be revisited as fuel prices hit an all-time high this weekend.

The RAC has forecast that diesel will smash its previous price record in the UK this weekend, amid ongoing conflict between the US and Iran. As of Sunday, September 27, prices are averaging a staggering 199.05p per litre for diesel and 174.04p for petrol, according to the breakdown service’s live price tracker.

Simon Williams, the RAC’s head of policy, has predicted “the record of 199.09p will almost certainly be surpassed over the weekend”, as Labour’s conference kicks off and indeed the average prices are just 0.4p per litre away.

Sky News reports suggest that as of July, the UK had only 42 days’ worth of diesel left — the lowest among developed nations apart from Australia.

Back in March, when the conflict first erupted, a Labour Treasury minister did not rule out the possibility of petrol rationing in response to the crisis. Government plans drawn up by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero under its National Emergency Plan for Fuel outline exactly how such rationing would operate if it were to be introduced, reports the Express.

With diesel prices poised to smash records due to supply worries, the government’s contingency measures could theoretically be deployed for diesel in the future. These measures include priority fuel access for emergency services and public transport, plus temporary speed limit cuts to 50mph.

Louisa James, Political Correspondent at ITV’s Good Morning Britain, said back in March: “As you would expect the government has emergency plans in place which will be activated in the event of a severe disruption. Those are published online and they include things like petrol rationing, giving emergency services and public transport priority for fuel. Also reportedly a temporary 50mph speed limit to reduce demand for fuel.”

The National Emergency Plan for Fuel states: “The majority of potential fuel supply disruptions can be addressed by measures to help industry maintain fuel supply; these would be deployed by DESNZ in co-ordination with industry and other government departments.