With May seeing three bank holiday weekends, many Britons are hoping to get away for the extended breaks, possibly on staycations around the country. Before setting off, drivers should consider certain etiquette tips when filling up with petrol or diesel at the fuel station, which could lead to awkward encounters at the pumps.
Never use a mobile phone
David James, fuel card expert and sales director at Right Fuel Card, said: “Filling up on fuel is a task that holds a lot of responsibility, fuel is highly flammable and anyone handling it needs to do so with caution, and as safely as possible.
“Whilst there’s no real data around the impact that mobile phones have on fuel, it has been said by the UKPIA that there could be a potential risk of sparking, as the technology has not been designed or certified for use in ‘explosive’ atmospheres.
“Whilst the risk involved may be low, it’s always best to minimise that risk and avoid using your mobile phone when filling up your vehicle’s fuel.”
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Moving the car after refuelling
Some social media users have fumed about being forced to wait behind other drivers while they go inside the filling station to pay.
Even if someone did move their car after filling up, the person behind would not be able to proceed until the charge had been paid.
However, if someone intends to do a quick shop after refuelling, it would be best practice to pay for the fuel and move the car before shopping.
Leaving a free pump empty
When at a filling station, some drivers may refuse to move their vehicle, even if there is a free pump in front of them, much to the dismay of the queue of vehicles behind.
However, Mr James advised: “If you have already begun fueling or inserting your card at the pump, do not feel pressured to move your vehicle. This isn’t safe or practical.
“If you haven’t exited your motor yet and see that the pump in front has become free, then you may wish to move forward to allow space for other drivers.”
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Fuelling from the wrong side
Most supermarkets and petrol stations will have long enough fuel pumps to ensure drivers can fill up regardless of which side their fuel cap is on.
However, in some cases, they might be shorter, meaning the driver has to move their car to fill up.
As a helpful tip, when looking at the fuel gauge on the dashboard, there will be a small image of a fuel tank with an arrow to show which side the fuel cap is on.
Parking
Filling stations can often be a tight squeeze, so drivers can have difficulty deciding where to park in a safe and spacious manner.
Drivers should be mindful when parking, with Mr James suggesting that if their own vehicle wouldn’t be able to fit beside them, then neither can anyone else’s.
However, this is not something which should stress drivers out, they can simply adjust their own car if they see anyone else struggling to fit.
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