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Charles_Whitman t1_ixt3hxs wrote

I don’t have a reference for this, but I was told by my father that it dates back to the days when filling stations pumped gas for you and it was to help stop people from accidentally driving off before the pump jockey was finished. They didn’t have pop-off hoses then either, so driving off with the hose still in the filler hole could do damage all around.

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Quietm02 t1_ixttml4 wrote

That may be a part of it, but it's definitely mainly safety. Even countries where people have always done their own fuel have the rule.

Car engines are hot and are obvious ignition sources. During normal operation the fuel is nicely contained and that's fine. When refuelling the fuel is not nicely contained and can spill. This is an explosion risk.

Its a very small risk admittedly, but still present.

I'm not aware of any incidents at fuelling stations (though am sure there are some) but am very aware of industrial accidents where trucks have left their engine on around hazardous materials and caused an explosion. I'm sure there was a very serious one in Texas in early 2000s.

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FattestSpiderman t1_ixtq16u wrote

I was told the same! Considering the utterly moronic things you see people do on a day to day basis, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was a daily occurrence for fuel stations back then

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nuclearrwessels t1_ixtrn9s wrote

I used to go the a full service gas station every week across from my job for a fill up. The attendant hit on me every single time. One day, I was distracted on a Bluetooth phone call and just started to drive away while he was mid pump. I stopped and thankfully nothing got damaged but I was too mortified to go back for weeks.

I finally went back one day and he goes “ahhh, hello! Very beautiful, not very smart.” Lmaoo i was like yah fair play.

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BSC25M t1_ixtwt70 wrote

Manage a full serve station…It’s STILL a fairly common occurrence…Literally happened yesterday…

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AutoRedux t1_ixtwryc wrote

Still is today. Especially at truck stops.

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