why are people so stupid?

[Monsieur]

For a start - not panic. As has been said elsewhere, the drivers have to give 7 days notice before a strike. If you filled up yesterday most likely you will have used most of it by the time any strike begins.

I don't panic but when I drive past the several filling stations on my way home I see very large queues and then on the local news I see that several have shut due to no fuel left I think to myself that if I don't 'panic' there will be bugger all fuel left for me when I need to some.
So, using my common sense, I fill my car up when I can and join the other 30 million normal people who have also seen the news, seen the queues and listened to the government advice and topped up their car.

What should I do?
Not panic and be left with no fuel and no way to get to work?
Be realistic!

 

[screenman]

For those thinking the strike will be a one day thing, WRONG! it will last longer. Mind you who can blame the drivers only £900 per week for 37 hours.

 

[Arch]

All my cupboards, fridge and freezer are full up just in case there are no delivery

How do you stop the petrol running out round the door seals?

I'm going to fill up both my eggcups, and a thimble, which will last me for some time.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

For those thinking the strike will be a one day thing, WRONG! it will last longer. Mind you who can blame the drivers only £900 per week for 37 hours.

Why do you assume that all strikes are about pay? The basic demands are related to conditions, health & safety and training. Actually, the latter something I thought cyclists might be a little supportive of when it comes to people driving large lethal vehicles around.

The silliness now is that there ISN'T a shortage of petrol - just that some retailers are running out temporarily due to the crazy buying and idiotic announcements from governments. It's not like the last time when once a garage ran out it closed - when a garage runs out it gets another delivery.

Thanks to the same attitude that saw people buying the contents of a micro-dairy and small bakery when an inch of snow fell, a problem is BEING created. That's why I'm not filling up at all - I have 1/2 a tank in case I need it, a bike, trailer and a switch card that can buy train tickets if needed. So there is no pojnt me adding to the chaos, might as well leave it for people who do actually NEED petrol. NEED is subjective and I'm sure there are a lot of able-bodied people living 3 miles or less from their work in the queues because they NEED their car to get to work. If they didn't join in the queues, those who work unsociable hours/different places/work from a van, could top up earlier than normal quite happily

 

[DiddlyDodds]

At least we wont have any riots for a few weeks as they will have nothing to put in their bottles to throw at the police.

 

[Peteaud]

Well i for one wont panic. Especially as i managed to squeeze another £1.07 worth in on the way home from work, its only 240 yards to the work car park but hey, i am prepared.

Might get up early and see if i can fill a few old coffee jars up with petrol as well.

 

[sheddy]

Motorist attempting to fill unsuitable container at pumps called 'potty'
(Gag stolen from Newsbiscuit)

 

[gbb]

I dont think of it as 'panic buying'...thats just a media term to give it more impact, blow it all out of proportion.
I need my car...i live 22 miles from work. I cycle part of the way but long shifts rob me of the desire to cycle all the way on a regular basis.
So, it began to get more coverage last night, so i did what most people are doing, went to fill my tank up. Thats not panic buying, thats just plain sensible. A tank will last me a week and a half.
The first station was heavy'ish with queues and half the pumps were closed/empty so i moved onto the next one on the route home.
There'll be plenty of fuel back in the stations in less than two days, so everyone who's filled up will be able to top up, those that havnt will do so in due course. Filling up early is actually making it easy for everyone, rather than leaving it till the last moment....then people will be in the mire.

Its all blown out of proportion by the media (as usual)..people are just being sensible.

 

[sheddy]

Norfolk and good - http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politic..._council_to_suspend_bin_collections_1_1335007

 

[soulful dog]

If petrol sales are up around 80% (and diesel 40%) then it is panic buying, and all because the government have made unnecessary announcements about how people should top-up if they are anywhere near a petrol station.

It's been announced today that ACAS hope to have talks set up for Monday meaning it'll be 11 days before a strike can even happen. Yet there are still government ministers saying we are not trying to cause panic but you should top up your tank just in case.

People aren't stupid (they see queues forming and are worried there will be a shortage when they need to fill up), it's the Government ministers that are stupid!

 

[asterix]

I'm driving to the Lake District on holiday at the weekend ... hope I can buy enough diesel to get there and get some to come back with too. There's no public transport to where we are staying, and it is too far to cycle from Bristol with three kids & the wife's walking gear/backpacks/travel cot etc...

You have filled your jerry cans, I assume?

That's if you can still get any jerry cans.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

'Tis all but a visious circle

 

[asterix]

So really the tanker drivers don't need to go on strike at all. The Government will ensure we run out anyway.

 

[gbb]

[QUOTE 1787238, member: 45"]No, it's causing problems. There's no "filling up early" because there's no strike being called yet. It is panic buying because people are filling up in the panic that there won't be any fuel left for them. And in that action they're creating the queues. It's crazy. And it's putting more demand on the fuel delivery infrastructure.

Our tank is a quarter full. We're going on holiday on Monday. There's no need for me to fill up now, so I'll wait until the panickers have calmed down, then I won't have to queue.[/quote]

Not aimed at you MP, but there;s too many generalisations...doubtless some are 'panicking'...i'm not, its a sensible decision for me.
My tank was nearly empty anyway, enough fuel for 1.5 days at work. I live 20 plus miles from work, 40 plus miles every day.
I put in roughly £35 to £40 per week, that only lasts me the week. Instead i put in £50 and i'll top it up as neccessary, probably more often than i would have normally.
There's an increasing amount of people who DONT generally fill their tanks any more, its more a case of putting in whats needed for the week. That doesnt leave you any margin if there's a problem. Thats probably why you're seeing a lot of people 'panicking'. But theyre not panicking, they're just filling up a few days before they would have anyway.

Secondly...i can't or wont cycle 40 plus miles a day to work. I don't get paid if i cant get to work, simple as that.

The point is, there's a lot of generalisation going on, its just as likely a LOT of people DO need their cars, just like i do.

Some people (probably a lot)...doubtlessly DONT need the car in the same way...

I already do cycle part of the way, even before all his rubbish.

Demand on the infrastructure ? i dont see it...it just means more lorries are going to haul the stuff around until everyones got their tanks filled. Its just spreading whats going to be a busy period. No doubt the drivers will be coining it in before they lose anything when and if they go on strike. It'll be busy for the infrastructure, but they'll cope. Everyone will get their cars filled up, some will do it early, some will do it later but hardly anyone will get left in the lurch.

 

[gbb]

Actually, if some consider drivers are 'panicking'...but at the same time are so sure there will be enough fuel in a few days (quite rightly)...why the hell be bothered if some prefer to fill up early.

You're borderline panicking about other people 'panicking'