Panic Buying of Fuel

[customjob]

We've all seen and heard what the Goverment have said and the press. Lets be responable about this, a large petrol station i.e.
of supermarket size will have enough stock of fuel under normal sales rates to last a week, to have a strike legally you need to submit a weeks notice if intent, so that still gives fourteen days of normal supply at petrol stations. one under ground tank at large petrol station can hold up to 150,000 ltrs of fuel and they don't just have one, there are several smaller tanks also. Think of it this way an 8 Gallon tank(40 lts), you can fill your Moggie up about 3,800 times. A modern car with a much larger tank 70lts about 2,100 times. PETROL IS NOT GOING TO RUN OUT ANYTIME SOON IF WE ARE ALL RESPONSABLE ABOUT IT

[brucek]

It's absolutely true - there has been confirmation on the radio today that there will be NO strike over Easter and if/when they do decide to strike, they have to give seven days notice so there are at least 2 weeks before anything will change noticeably. How long will the tank full of petrol that folks are queueing up to an hour for last? probably a week or at most two so they will be no better off. Why are people so dim? It's not even ceratin that there will be a strike! I know it is not a laughing matter but there was a report of a woman who has been severely burned when petrol ignited from a can she was filling - in her kitchen - whilst cooking tea!!!! all that unnecessary trauma and there isn't even a strike or the ammouncement of a strike yet!

Three people can say this better than me:[frame][/frame]

[M25VAN]

All very true. It tends to snowball doesn't it. You get the start of it and then the poor people that need petrol every day join in otherwise they run the risk of running out etc etc. For myself and alot of people, no petrol means no work means no pay.
I don't think all the press reports/phone ins about petrol stations running dry and mile long queues helps but then if they reported places that hadn't run out everyone would decend on them.
I guess the situation will ease until someone mentions strike again.

[brucek]

It really is incredible what people are doing. I just cannot believe there is such a panic over something that may not happen. I needed to fill up my car today as I have a trip to London on Sunday and I was almost empty - a guy in front of me put £2.50 worth of diesel in his car and, when I asked him why he had only put such a small amount in, his reply was - he was keeping his car topped up in case there was a strike. When I explained (as per my earlier post) that there wasn't going to be a strike for at least 14 days and maybe never, he had no answer. It's really is amazing to think that we are the most advanced species on this planet

Here's the link to the petrol incident I mentioned earlier too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17561078

Not going to say any more about it now! suffice to say I've seen plenty of these about today!

[frame][/frame]

[Matt Tomkins]

there was a report of a woman who has been severely burned when petrol ignited from a can she was filling - in her kitchen - whilst cooking tea!!!!

- - surely a new form of natural selection, if she's that stupid!
was at a recording of the Now Show last night, and some very funny observations about this situation -- definately worth a listen when it arrives on iPlayer later tonight

[beero]

I used to work for a large telephone company and whenever there was a slight rumour of fuel shortages they would TELL us to keep our vans topped up. I just wonder how many companies are now telling their staff to do the same, and so escallating the problem.

[lambrettalad]

lots of stations around brume /solihull have no fuel and are closed !!!!

[oddbod]

I nearly had my own crisis last night,down below a 1/4 of a tank of diesel I dont let it go into the red cos of the chance of pulling muck through,no diesel at any of the 6 fuel stations I pass on my thursday Dad taxi run. My son has a job in one of them and told me they had 3 scuffles yesterday on the forecourt and the Police had warned them about cars queueing out onto a major road junction.He told me they had a delivery at 11pm last night,I went and got 20l this am( it isn't any cheaper if you buy more) and his mate on the tills told me they were selling so much that 5days supply would be gone by lunch time!!!

[bmcecosse]

As soon as the Gov say 'don't panic buy' - that's when I get my jacket on and go fill the diesel modern tank to the brim...... But I haven't dragged out the Jerry cans yet......maybe tomorrow. Also took the Traveller up today - it's first run out this year - and topped it's tank up to the brim, it was half full over winter. The Gov have been very clever here (Milliband and Balls STILL don't get it.. ) - by causing this panic buying they have effectively completely negated the consequences of any petrol driver strike - everyone now has a full tank - and they will keep it topped up until all risk of a strike goes away. Yes - £2:50 is of course ridiculous..... as is pouring petrol from a can into a jug in your kitchen with the cooker on ...... The Fire Service confirm you are perfectly legal to hold 2 X large Jerry cans AND 2 X small plastic petrol cans in your garage - but NOT in your house!

[MarkyB]

Not only that but they have diverted attention away from the budget and donations for dinners with the PM.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Those with low compression engines could supplement their petrol ration with paraffin....

[lambrettalad]

ESSO BLUE OR PINK?
Filled the moggie today chap in the garage said its never been so quiet !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mike.perry]

No problem filling the Series MM at the local supermarket yesterday evening. Don't know what all the fuss is about. Enough fuel to get to the branch meeting in Oxford on Wednesday and still have a spare can for the lawn mower

[moggiethouable]

Lovely sign in our local butchers though "Please panic buy,butcher going on strike!"

[bmcecosse]

The quiet petrol stations are precisely because everyone has filled their tanks and is sitting happily NOT worrying about a tanker driver strike. As they use some fuel - they will top up again. Unite and Miliband/Balls are of course furious!! Cameron has completely outwitted them.

[AntB]

Unite and Miliband/Balls are of course furious!! Cameron has completely outwitted them.

that's assuming that this was anything but a happy accident that the public reacted the way they did.

my personal feeling is that the British public is about as close as you can get to a bunch of feckless lemmings, so i'm convinced that they happy worked themselves up into this frenzy all on their own

[bmcecosse]

The public were TOLD to stock up - and they did! But frankly - advice to NOT stock up would have had me up at the pumps even faster!!

[MarkyB]

I very calmly filled my car up yesterday, the panic only came with the price £79!