Fuel price cap in Austria: Genuine help or just a drop in the ocean?

Do you ever find yourself at the petrol station not believing your eyes? Over two euros for a litre of diesel – that's madness. And while we're sighing at the pumps here in Upper Austria, yet another fuel price cap is being trotted out in Vienna. Some call it a lifeline, others a lazy compromise. I'll be honest with you: before we rely on politics, you should know where you can save money yourself.

What exactly is this fuel price cap?

Simply put, the state would cover part of the price of petrol or diesel, so you pay less at the pump. Sounds good, doesn't it? But as so often in life, the devil is in the detail. The debate heats up whenever the price of crude oil goes haywire. I remember back in autumn when prices shot to record highs – everyone moaned, but very little actually happened. Some fear that the fuel price cap would only fatten the pockets of the big oil companies, because they'd just hike prices again. Others say: the main thing is that something is done at all.

What's actually in it for you?

Let's do some common-sense maths: relief of a few cents per litre – you might notice it when you fill up, but in the long run? It's a drop in the ocean as long as the big oil players call the shots. I've been taking a close look over the last few months at where our fuel money really ends up. And trust me, the margin of the filling station operators isn't the problem. It's the taxes and the speculative crude oil market. A fuel price cap without strict controls? That's like a brolly with no fabric.

How you can save fuel right now – no politics needed

Because we don't want to wait for the slow grind of legislation, I've put together a few tricks that really make a difference. No waffle – just practical tips you can start using from tomorrow. Some of them will easily save you 15 per cent – that's more than any debate about a fuel price cap.

• Drive ahead of the game: Changing down gears? Forget it. Instead, watch the traffic and ease off the accelerator early. Every unnecessary burst of speed and every brake tap drains your tank.
• Check your tyre pressure: Under-inflated tyres mean more rolling resistance – that can cost you up to half a litre per 100 kilometres. Check it once a month at the petrol station.
• Take off roof boxes and racks: Anything that disrupts the wind flow guzzles fuel. At 80 mph, an empty roof rack can increase consumption by 10 per cent.
• Don't let the engine idle to warm up: This isn't a classic carburettor car. Modern engines don't need a minute of idling – it's bad for the environment and your wallet.
• Use fuel price apps: The differences between filling stations in Linz, Wels or Steyr are often 10 cents or more. A short detour can be well worth it.

I bet you: anyone who follows these five points will get significantly further on the same money. That's a fuel price cap in action – from your own pocket.

What are people saying at the pump?

I was chatting to a lorry driver in Ansfelden the other day. He just laughs at the politicians' proposals. "First they should make sure diesel doesn't cost more than beer," he said. And he's right. Here we are in the heart of Europe, paying global market prices, but our incomes aren't keeping up. A fuel price cap might soothe the anger in the short term – like an aspirin for a hangover. But the root cause remains: we're too dependent on oil. Until politicians seriously tackle that, there's only one answer: drive smart.

So next time you're standing at the pump and see the price, take a deep breath. Turn the heating down in the car, drive at a sensible speed, and think of my list. The big fuel price cap from Vienna may come – or it may not. You can start today to cap your own price. And that's worth more than any manifesto promise.