UK petrol pumps

[misk111]

Why don't petrol pumps in the UK have a clip so that you dont have to hold the handle?

[sddsddean]

I seem to remember that there have been a few cases of people driving off with the nozzle still in the car as they have heard it click off, but basically I think the forecourt chains think we are too thick to know how to use them! All nozzles have the holes for the clip to work, but the little bar in the handle is missing. Conversely, I have hardly ever found the clips missing on diesel pumps when I fill up my truck (assuming its at a truck only pump). Obviously us truck drivers are supposed to be more intelligent!!

[gazzawazza]

It's a safety feature to stop you from putting petrol in without having to consciously control it. If you become distracted (chatting, browsing round the shop etc.) and the dispenser falls out petrol can escape. Obviously, being highly flammable it only needs a tiny spark to ignite. Diesel, being a heavier fuel, needs a fuse to ignite it and so is "safer."

[sft42]

This, and pre authorisation of fuel pumps stopped, a while back thanks to a nice dutch chappie who went into his Shell garage and having parked at the wrong side of the pump grabbed hold of the nozzle and dragged it round to the other side of the car........as he did so he squeezed the trigger and petrol started flowing which ignited on sparks from his pipe....in the aftermath of the explosion (if I remember rightly) and resultant crater something like 14 people died and loads were injured, and legislation changed all over Europe.....Diesel pumps are held to be different as long as they are attended constantly because of the much larger volumes on lorries......I think a Volvo Globetrotter can have a double tank that can hold up to 500 litres....is that right sddsddean?

[sddsddean]

I used to carry 900 litres in my DAF95, but my brother in law bought a special tank and moved his batteries so he could carry 1500 litres. 1000 litre tanks (or twin tanks) are commonplace. Bearing in mind the average truck does about 8mpg (which is as good as 3kmpl), I used to be able to travel about 2700km, so it would last about 3 to 4 days (if I was lucky!)