Petrol prices would have to nearly double before drivers would consider switching to public transport, according to a poll yesterday.

Research for car insurer esure showed the tipping point would not come until the average price reached 1.83 pounds a litre from about 95.6 pence now.

The “Carry on Pumping” poll also found there was a substantial hard core of motorists (55 percent) who said they would never switch, whatever the petrol price.

“Public transport may never overtake people’s preference for their own cars, whatever the cost,” said esure’s Mike Pickard.

“For many people, the absence of cheap public transport means a car is essential in their lives and virtually any price will be paid for petrol,” the insurer’s head of risk and underwriting added in a statement.

The poll by ICM of 644 drivers in May found that 37 percent of respondents would not consider replacing their car with a more fuel-efficient or environmentally friendly car in the next three years.

In addition, 79 percent have not changed their attitude towards buying petrol, despite recent price hikes. Although there are fuel-saving techniques drivers can adopt, 72 percent of drivers do not know what they are and a fifth say they cannot be bothered to put them into practice.