Panic buying of fuel. Why?

**scumdog** · 25th February 2011, 07:35

I see people in Ch-ch have been lining-up for ever to buy fuel, I bet a fair percentage don't actually NEED the fuel.
(i.e. their car has half a tank of gas already etc).

The roads aren't exactly the best for driving around

So why are they so desperate for fuel?
Are they planning on travelling 100's of km from the city centre?

(Or is it the female thing where they normally keep driving until the low-fuel warning light comes on and now they realise it may not be the best thing to do?)

In any event it clutteres up the roads for essential services as people line up for gas or drive aimlessly looking for a gas station that is open/still has some fuel left.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 25th February 2011, 07:49

but maybe they're wanting to fill up so they can get the fuck out of the place.

**scumdog** · 25th February 2011, 07:52

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

but maybe they're wanting to fill up so they can get the fuck out of the place.

I kinda mentioned that...but ALL of them filling up??

**oneofsix** · 25th February 2011, 07:54

according to those interviewed on telly last night its cause their phones aren't working so they are driving all around the city to see their rellies. Sorry but once you know they are ok stay the fuck home!
Or like the woman in the SUV queued for petrol, her SUV tank was fill she wanted petrol for the generator, hope it wasn't one of the stolen Telstra ones

Probably burnt more fuel in the SUV queuing than the generator required.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 25th February 2011, 07:54

I hear ya.

**avgas** · 25th February 2011, 07:55

Because the power/radio/water etc is out - people are going all over town to rubberneck and see what is going on.

Also with power out - Car is the closest thing to a genni

However when was the last time any of us said - It's ok, I can do another 50km before the empty light comes on.....
we assume that we could get gas when that light comes on.
For a while Chch couldn't

**steve_t** · 25th February 2011, 08:03

I think someone said they were afraid the fuel supply might run out completely. Not only were people filling up their cars but they were filling up multiple fuel containers as well. Reassurance from the petrol stations that the supply won't run out hasn't helped as all the people getting fuel at once has caused stations to run dry

**avgas** · 25th February 2011, 08:19

Yep, you have to remember that people are both scared, and unprepared.

Should be a wake up call for the rest of us, but we keep forgetting that you don't know when the shit hits the fan.
And to think that chch had this only 6 months ago.......and still aren't prepared.

big fucking wake up call

hotgsxr750 · 25th February 2011, 08:24

Originally Posted by scumdog

I see people in Ch-ch have been lining-up for ever to buy fuel, I bet a fair percentage don't actually NEED the fuel.
(i.e. their car has half a tank of gas already etc).

The roads aren't exactly the best for driving around

So why are they so desperate for fuel?
Are they planning on travelling 100's of km from the city centre?

(Or is it the female thing where they normally keep driving until the low-fuel warning light comes on and now they realise it may not be the best thing to do?)

In any event it clutteres up the roads for essential services as people line up for gas or drive aimlessly looking for a gas station that is open/still has some fuel left.

maybe they are just bored

**Kickaha** · 25th February 2011, 08:50

Because they are fucking muppets, same as the panic buying of bread, milk, water etc, they make the situation worse than it needs to be by taking more than they need

It wasn't just Christchurch, once they'd sucked the city dry they moved out further, Rangiora had run out, so had Oxford, Cust, Ohoka, Woodend and One of the Amberly stations

Supposedly there was no fuel between Christchurch and Blenheim

Yesterday they had police directing Traffic at the Shell station here

Although some of these will have been refilled by now as they diverted a ship that was due at Lyttelton to Timaru and were filling tankers out of there to supply Christchurch

**Grasshopperus** · 25th February 2011, 08:51

Fuel means options. Have fuel can travel.

**Shadowjack** · 25th February 2011, 08:52

Don't know. really - possibly a case of "just in case we have to REALLY get out and far, far away". Understandable from that perspective, I guess, and it does give a warm, comfortable feeling to be able control as least one aspect of life here at the moment, to know it's there and can get out if you need to.
I saw the queues yesterday as I was out and about checking on a colleague no-one had heard from since Tuesday.
Roads are shit the further east and south you go (I'm in the northwest); it might be little, but I like my 4WD. The traffic is polite and courteous. Not many traffic lights, but no panic, no tempers, so better than usual

. It does take a shit-load of time longer to get anywhere, so the expected petrol usage for a given trip is likely to be highly underestimated for the time being, etc,etc.
As for me - the wee truck was bouncing around on the "E" mark on Monday night, so Tuesday morning, I debated whether or not to put in $40, or to top it right up. I brimmed the tank....

**scumdog** · 25th February 2011, 08:58

Never understood people driving around knowing they had less than 1/4 tank of gas.

Me? - as soon as it gets to 1/4 I start looking for a gas-station - and fill up, none of this "ah $15 thanks" shit.

**Shadowjack** · 25th February 2011, 09:08

Originally Posted by scumdog

Never understood people driving around knowing they had less than 1/4 tank of gas. Me? - as soon as it gets to 1/4 I start looking for a gas-station - and fill up, none of this "ah $15 thanks" shit.

Until recently, I hadn't had to worry about the truck - I was using the bike 100%. First time in a long, long time I had let it get past half-empty (and a fuel tank is half-empty - none of this half-full rubbish where gas is concerned...)