LONDON -- Some 1,000 truck drivers across Britain are expected to drive into central London on Tuesday to participate in a rally demanding fuel duty rebates.
The drivers said they do not mean to disrupt traffic in the capital city but to demand an "essential" fuel duty rebate and a suspension of the proposed 2p (about 4 U.S. cents) rise in fuel duty in the autumn.
Fuel prices have risen rapidly in the past few months. Last week, crude reached a record price of 135.09 U.S. dollars a barrel, almost a third higher than at the start of the year.
A truck driver now has to spend some 1,000 pounds (some 2,000 U.S. dollars) every week on fuel, said a spokesperson from Transaction 2007, organizers of the protest.
Hundreds of British companies would go out of business if nothing was done as continental transporters using cheaper fuel were much more competitive, the spokesperson added.
The protesters will reportedly rally at Hyde Park Corner before handing a petition to No. 10 Downing Street.
The drivers said they do not mean to disrupt traffic in the capital city but to demand an "essential" fuel duty rebate and a suspension of the proposed 2p (about 4 U.S. cents) rise in fuel duty in the autumn.
Fuel prices have risen rapidly in the past few months. Last week, crude reached a record price of 135.09 U.S. dollars a barrel, almost a third higher than at the start of the year.
A truck driver now has to spend some 1,000 pounds (some 2,000 U.S. dollars) every week on fuel, said a spokesperson from Transaction 2007, organizers of the protest.
Hundreds of British companies would go out of business if nothing was done as continental transporters using cheaper fuel were much more competitive, the spokesperson added.
The protesters will reportedly rally at Hyde Park Corner before handing a petition to No. 10 Downing Street.
