Many motorists are resolving to walk more and drive less often in 2015, according to a breakdown service poll.

Despite the recent big fall in the price of petrol at the pumps in the UK, as many as 12 per cent intend to drive more economically in the new year, found an AA/Populus survey of more than 16,000 AA members.

A significantly greater proportion of women have resolved to walk more – I hope 2015 isn’t the year of the male couch potato

The UK poll showed that walking more topped the list of drivers' new year resolutions, with 13 per cent intending to do this, five per cent pledging to cycle more, five per cent to drive more safely and five per cent to drive less often.

AA president Edmund King said: “Our members are a canny bunch, as are UK drivers as a whole. Bitter experience of pump-price surges since 2008 tells them that the current collapse will be met by a rebound at some time.

“They took around two years to adapt their car travel patterns to deal with record petrol and diesel prices and they won't go back to their old routines overnight.

“A significantly greater proportion of women have resolved to walk more next year – 16 per cent as opposed to 11 per cent of men.

“Hopefully, 2015 won't become the year of the male couch potato.”