Lights off at petrol stations?

[Simon]

This is how you check a petrol tanker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APCbGKmJ2jg

With a lighter!?!

 

[[TW]Fox]

someone working at a petrol station told me it was to stop drive off's

This is what I was told but they might as well also ban people who have a bannana in the car as it's about as relevent. Why do they think that lights on/off makes any difference over the ability of somebody to simply drive off?

 

[InvaderGIR]

It says phoning ringing, my arse it is, that's a naked flame!

This is what I was told but they might as well also ban people who have a bannana in the car as it's about as relevent. Why do they think that lights on/off makes any difference over the ability of somebody to simply drive off?

Blatantly lights on means you can make a hasty getaway. :/

 

[Firestar_3x]

Having lights on draws more power so slows the car down, all good getaway drivers know to keep aux power consumption to the minimum.

 

[Sirrel Squirrel]

They just have to be seen doing whatever they can to prevent a drive off although lights off doesn't really make a difference but it's one of the rules.

 

[[TW]Fox]

They just have to be seen doing whatever they can to prevent a drive off although lights off doesn't really make a difference but it's one of the rules.

Should they not also request that you wear board shorts and a santa hat? I doubt much fuel is stolen by people wearing board shorts and a santa hat so this is clearly a key way forward.

 

[iaind]

Having lights on draws more power so slows the car down, all good getaway drivers know to keep aux power consumption to the minimum.

Trust me, the sort of people who drive off wouldnt understand what aux power consumtpion means....or power consumption. In fact, most of them still think electricity is witchcraft

 

[iaind]

They just have to be seen doing whatever they can to prevent a drive off although lights off doesn't really make a difference but it's one of the rules.

Its not to prevent drive offs, its a fire risk rule - the person in question has just misunderstood the rule

 

[[TW]Fox]

Its not to prevent drive offs, its a fire risk rule

Where is the fire risk in headlights? Thats ridiculous. What about at night when everyone leaving the pump will turn the lights on as they drive off? What about in every other petrol filling station in the country where they dont care about lights?

 

[mrk]

Lol,

Lights are more likely to ignite flames than a mobile phone and they don't allow phones to be used.....even though both are as likely to ignite fuel as me winning Lotto on Friday.

 

[iaind]

Where is the fire risk in headlights? Thats ridiculous. What about at night when everyone leaving the pump will turn the lights on as they drive off? What about in every other petrol filling station in the country where they dont care about lights?

The advice is generally not to leave any electrical items on - if there's a short of some sort it could cause a spark.

Obviously I know how unlikely it is, its a miniscule risk but its sensible to eliminate risks like that when its as simple as flicking a switch. I'm not condoning the behaviour, it wouldnt have bothered me when I worked in one, but I can understand the mentality.

She was either stupid and misunderstood the risks/rules or something about you rang a little alarm bell as I explained before.

Not condoning her behaviour, but thats where the rules come from

 

[[TW]Fox]

I think the sooner people switch radios off in petrol stations the better! We could all die.

 

[iaind]

Lol,

Lights are more likely to ignite flames than a mobile phone and they don't allow phones to be used.....even though both are as likely to ignite fuel as me winning Lotto on Friday.

Agreed the risk is tiny, but given the consequences if something does go pear shaped, and how easy it is to negate the "risks" - its sensible to enfoce them

 

[mrk]

How many incidents have been recorded from headlight and mobile phone fuel ignition?

Exactly.

 

[Simon]

I love the way they ignore the spark plugs and ignition when the engine is running


In our work labs we aren't allowed to take mobile phones in, as there is a tiny risk of them causing a spark

 

[Simon]

How many incidents have been recorded from headlight and mobile phone fuel ignition?

Exactly.

If the conditions are right a mobile phone giving off mircrowaves can cause a spark.

 

[iaind]

How many incidents have been recorded from headlight and mobile phone fuel ignition?

Exactly.

There's been one or 2 from mobile phones (they showed CCTV footage of one as part of training) - lights in particular I dont know but theres been several from electrical faults too.

As I said though, no matter how tiny the risk is, its simple enough to eliminate them (within reason)

 

[mrk]

Ah right

 

[[TW]Fox]

It sounds like the idea of petrol stations is just too dangerous and they should be banned.

If this light thing is dangerous why:

a) Do other petrol stations not enforce it
b) Are there not signs up
c) Do people not explode when driving onto the forecourt or when setting off after fuelling

And surely turning electrics on and off is the bigger risk than leaving them on?

Why are so many retards working in positions of authority in this country?

 

[iaind]

The enforcement really depends on who's behind the counter, some people wont pay a blind bit of attention, some will follow every rule by the letter. What is actually needed is common sense - if it was me and someone had sidelights on, I'd probably ignore it. If they had main beam on with the drivers door left open, I'd probably think twice.
The advice these people are given is to ensure, as best they can, that no electrical devices are used on the forecourt - its obviously impractical to enforce this 100% of the time, but a bit of common sense goes a long way.