Higher pump prices, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates and parking charges seem to have persuaded motorists to ease off on the throttle, by anticipating how much fuel is being used.

In the first six months of the year statistics from the Ministry of Trade and Industry showed that 3.916 million barrels of fuel, both petrol and diesel were sold. This is 2.2 per cent less than the same period last year.

There has still been a drop in sales of petrol even though a growth of 6.1 per cent has been seen in the number of vehicles on the road.

Though the 2.2 per cent dip may not seem significant, it translates to around $27.5 million in sales. This is an usual drop as the economy has been relatively stable during the first half of this year.

The last time such a dip occurred was in 2003, in the initial stages of the Iraq war and the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

That year, fuel sales fell by 5.2 per cent to 7.872 million barrels.

Last year, fuel sales totaled 8.046 million barrels.

Industry observers told the Straits Times, high pump prices have encouraged drivers to cut back on discretionary trips as well as plan their journeys better.

Drivers may have adopted more frugal driving practices - from being light-footed to going without air-conditioning.

With the expanded ERP network,higher charges plus costly parking fees, have driven people to take public transport.

Statistics show that daily ridership on buses and trains has hit a record 4.8 million since June this year.

Mr Vincent Chong, retail manager of ExxonMobil, which has the largest refuelling network here, reported to the Straits Times saying, "Higher prices have influenced a change in lifestyle, not just here in Singapore but everywhere.

"In the last two years, we've seen more than 10 per cent of sales shifting from 98-octane petrol to 95-octane. 92-octane sales are rising too", suggesting that people are shifting to cheaper fuels.

Many motorists have altered their driving patterns after prices began rising last year, trying to adopt modifications to their cars to make it more efficient

Warehouse manager Adrian Wang, 48, told the Straits Times, he is now getting better economy from his car, a Mitsubishi Evo Wagon. "I used to get 6.8km per litre. Now I get as much as 7.9km."