Does anyone else think this is dangerous

**AliceK** · 05-11-2011, 01:10 PM

Hi

I was sat at the petrol station this morning waiting for OH to come out of the garage after paying. There was a van parked at the side of me with his bonnet up obviously doing something in his engine. Next thing a breakdown truck arrived, not one of the well known ones, and pulls up in front of the van. The guy jumps out with one of those portable battery charger things and proceeds connect it up to the broken down vans battery to try and jump start the van

. Is it just me or is that incredibly stupid on a petrol forecourt? My OH said I was being overly cautious for driving away pretty promptly before he had properly sat down in the car and put his money away etc.

xxxx

**mufftie** · 05-11-2011, 01:16 PM

My hubby is a breakdown mechanic and he has to tow away from forcourt before attempting to fix a vehicle . I think its insane what that man did

**boxtree7** · 05-11-2011, 01:22 PM

I am a bit silly ... I was wondering how you would remove the van from the Forecourt first.

**AliceK** · 05-11-2011, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by mufftie

My hubby is a breakdown mechanic and he has to tow away from forcourt before attempting to fix a vehicle . I think its insane what that man did

Exactly. If he had towed him over to the parking area I would have felt better about it but to do that right next to the petrol pump

xxxx

onceinabluemoon · 05-11-2011, 02:04 PM

did the mechanic have a cigarette hanging out of his mouth at the same time? What a numpty!!

**Spangles** · 05-11-2011, 06:51 PM

Considering you aren't even allowed to use a mobile phone there that was amazingly dangerous in my opinion! I would have wanted to leave prompto!

**rickysmiths** · 05-11-2011, 08:37 PM

I would have thought he should have been towed well out of the way. Jump leads often spark what a stupid thing to do.

The mobile thing is an Urban myth by the way.

**babs** · 05-11-2011, 09:45 PM

Very stupid. as for mobile phones been a myth my hubby is a cellular communications engineer and this far from a myth the vapour coming out when you are filling up is extremely flammable and even the slightest spark can ignite it.

**jumping j** · 06-11-2011, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by rickysmiths

I would have thought he should have been towed well out of the way. Jump leads often spark what a stupid thing to do.

The mobile thing is an Urban myth by the way.

I was refused petrol a year ago until i hung up my phone!!

**Hebs** · 06-11-2011, 11:30 AM

the mobile thing isnt a myth x

**mufftie** · 06-11-2011, 12:00 PM

Can I just add in this man's defence , I've quizzed my hubby and he says that even though its not good practice to do jump starts at pump its not actually dangerous if its done with leads from the van as they are sealed and there is no spark . The reason its not good practice is because the public get concerned at it dosnt look good on thr company
I must add if its done with Joe publics leads from car to car then this is dangerous

**rickysmiths** · 06-11-2011, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Hebs

the mobile thing isnt a myth x

I knew I would find the evidence somewhere! Still sure it is on the HSE Web sites Myths as well but I can't find it. Anyway this is fairly conclusive:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4366337.stm

**rickysmiths** · 06-11-2011, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by babs

Very stupid. as for mobile phones been a myth my hubby is a cellular communications engineer and this far from a myth the vapour coming out when you are filling up is extremely flammable and even the slightest spark can ignite it.

Sorry but this is a myth. A cigarette wouldn't ignite the vapour either. See the link I have posted.

**Zoomie** · 06-11-2011, 04:33 PM

A spark is what will ignite the petroleum vapours and cause an explosion.

I know that cigarettes and mobile phones don't cause sparks, but eletrical circuits and lighters can or will, so please don't think it is okay to light up a fag or use a mobile whilst on a forecourt of a petrol station.

The massive explosion that can result is not worth the lives of the poor staff, customers, neighbours and every other innocent person in the facinity of that petrol station.

**Blaze** · 06-11-2011, 06:26 PM

Just a Q - If it's a myth re mobile phones then why do they have signs up on the forecourts saying no mobile phone usage?

**ajs** · 06-11-2011, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Hebs

the mobile thing isnt a myth x

According to myth busters it is

**rickysmiths** · 07-11-2011, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Blaze

Just a Q - If it's a myth re mobile phones then why do they have signs up on the forecourts saying no mobile phone usage?

I have no idea but it is a myth a mobile phone will not ignite petrol vapour.

http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp

http://mythbustersresults.com/episode2

Here are another 2 links that confirms it is a myth and give the science behind it. They also explain why we still see signs up.