AIBU to think there's more to the petrol "crisis" than meets the eye?

[tartantroosers]

AIBU to think there's something very weird going on with the fuel "shortages"!
Big caveat- I'm not a conspiracy theorist but it's so bad where we are (Just inside M25) that many people I know won't be able to get to work this week. Garages have queues which are blocking all main routes and they're not even open! Is this a novel way of ensuring that we all "STAY AT HOME" ?!

[SilverGlitterBaubles]

Only in that the government fails spectacularly to plan for anything, ignores experts and industry leaders and then just bumble around telling everyone not to panic. Dues recent experience trust in what these politicians say is pretty low, so the public just don't have confidence in what they say.

[Djifunrsn]

I really don't think people are being dicks in trying to ensure they can get to wherever they need to go. Most people don't drive their cars for the fun of listening to the engine, they need to get to work/school/medical stuff/supermarket etc.

[Staffy1]

The government should have seen this all coming years ago and had a plan ready but as always they wait for things to go badly wrong before acting

Yes, this does seem to be their style with everything.

[antoniawhite]

I don’t get what’s wrong with spacemandad’s post. His son’s girlfriend’s mum has had a shitty weekend working at the petrol station, so he sent her a bottle of wine via his son. What’s wrong with that? Am I being thick?

[IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves]

You mean the petrol crisis that is being caused by bloody idiots reading gubbins about possible shortages so getting in their cars en masse, filling up to the top, filling jerry cans and thus creating the issue themselves?

Like they did with loo rolls?

[mpsw]

@NoSquirrels

Then WTAF aren't they using the pool of well qualified military HGV drivers?

Not for everything, perhaps, but for critical supplies like fuel.

This is one weekend’s worth of panic buying which will be mostly resolved by next week. There’s no shortage of fuel itself.

We don’t need the military yet.

Disagree

If the issue is a lack of drivers, then provide the drivers

Why wait until everything seizes up because of lack of fuel?

Unless of course the issue isn't the lack of drivers

In 2000, we were only a couple of days away from dangerous levels of failure because of unobtainability of fuel. Why risk it now, if it's true that the cause is shortage of drivers, and there is a pool of well-qualified drivers who could be deployed on very short notice

[MagnusMagnusson]

It's certainly an incentive to get more people to buy an electric vehicle! I keep thinking the same OP, can't believe this has just sprung out of no where...People have been going back to EU countries for a while now, how come it's all just tipped over into this shitstorm of not enough HGV drivers. I can't help but think the situation is not being helped intentionally. Why isn't the government bringing in the army to help, they saved the day on the vaccination programme they could help considerably with the fuel crisis. It's all a bit suspicious....

[mellicauli]

I don't think it's fair to blame the people queuing..they can't afford to miss work, they don't want to miss their hospital appointment, they have to take their child to school or take their child to university. And they won't be able to do that if they don't have any petrol.

The people to blame are the ones who decided to solve a problem by starting a panic.

[Pixxie7]

Nearly everyone has a reason why they need petrol whilst I understand about community nurses etc, others also need to get to work if only for financial reasons.
I think everybody has more appreciation for key workers, but in some cases I think there is now an air of entitlement amongst some groups.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

@PrtScn

The only petrol station round here still open for fuel is the one that has been limiting fillups to £30 max. If the others had followed suit we’d probably not be in quite so much shit.

Arguably they should limit it to £30 min. Or £40. That would stop the people trying to squeeze another gallon into an almost full tank.

[JamMakingWannaBe]

If I was the Chief Executive of say, Heinz, I could start a rumour that the factories are running short on ketchup and tomato soup. Instant sales rush, and £££. If I was a conspiracy theorist, the real question is why THIS weekend....?

ZERO queues at my local supermarket petrol station and shelves were full. Even got some good yellow label items so obviously over rather than under stocked.

[VerbenaGirl]

I just can’t help but think that those in power are in no way organised enough for that.

[Theunamedcat]

I think its industry forcing the government to bring in foreign workers again most people who voted for brexit (government core voters) did so on the premises that we could take back control of our jobs etc etc no one was believing we actually needed those workers to function suddenly they have been hit where it hurts in the supply chain and we are now welcoming in drivers from overseas

As ds would say its kinda "sus"

[SweetBabyCheeses99]

I don’t even get the big deal…we live in a big city, close to a motorway way junction with two motorways… even our cheapest local petrol (Asda) barely had much of a queue

[ArrrMeHearties]

My local asda is now a £30 per sale limit. No idea about tesco as I've not used them since they changed their pay at the pump policy

[LemonSwan]

Well my DP came out with quite a conspiracy theory earlier.

He thinks its to do with afghanistan.

How, he doesnt know. But it did make me think. And neither do I know how.

But Gas, then petrol all of a sudden.

Its all a bit of a coincidence.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Dh has just come home as the 2 petrol stations nearest us have no fuel

He is FURIOUS. Not because he's getting the bus (he doesn't care) but because he has 3 schools to go to on Tuesday he won't be able to (Deputy head) - these are transition visits to plan talk to the kids about going up to big school

What a nightmare...

These are literally visits planned months in advance

[Jellykat]

£20 limit here today, living rurally (West Wales) that isnt going to go far!

[JamMakingWannaBe]

Is there any gas / oil in Afghanistan? I thought they mostly grew poppies - for both legitimate and illegal drug purposes.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

@ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife

I think it will mean more lift sharing and busier public transport in the short term, thereby providing greater opportunities for covid to spread.

We're not supposed to lift share at work due to covid. If we do we're supposed to wear masks, have the windows open and sanitise the car. Needless to say I won't be offering anyone a lift!

[MydogWillow]

@Northernsouloldies

Personally I don't think there is but the hoovering up of fuel in containers /Jerry cans is selfish in the extreme. Storing fuel has the potential to be lethal whether its stored in the boot or the home. Buy what you need not what you think you need.

It depends if those people are indeed being knobs or need it for their work.

Unfortunately there are many trades who need extra fuel. DH needs to fill his van and also Jerry can to run plant on site or he can't work.

[RosesAndHellebores]

I had over half a tank on Thursday and took the view it should last me a fortnight. If I'd had less than that and needed it for work next week I'd have topped up on Thursday as this first broke. There were plenty of petrol stations still open on Thursday.

It's an issue due to panic buying, just like the bog roll crisis of March 2020.

[Twilight7777]

I do but I think it’s the media that have done this not the government. They’ve seen some have had a bit less fuel in certain garages and have hyped it up so people panic

[LadyTiredWinterBottom2]

@Figgygal

The only thing going on here is that people yet again are showing themselves as being monumentally selfish and stupid

^ It's funny and l wish it weren't true but it is.

Better being in lockdown, at least you don't have any contact with the plebs

[LemonSwan]

Is there any gas / oil in Afghanistan? I thought they mostly grew poppies - for both legitimate and illegal drug purposes.

I dont think so, or I think there is but its not currently utilised.

Like I said he has no idea how it would be related. Just its a coincidence and so he's decided its a possible theory.