[tmazanec1]

Two of three gas pumps on an "island" at the station I go to were covered over yesterday. The other side worked, but the lower plate had broken off, showing the inner workings, so it likely was not a shortage but a simple breakdown (the pumps on that side worked). Creepy, though...felt I was on the set of a post-peak movie!

[Specop_007]

I remember about...Ohh, a year and a half ago I believe, me and the family were coming back home. I filled up went in and paid. Came back out, the guy on the other side of the pump was looking at the pump funny. I look around, others are starting to tap tap tap, funny looks....
Gas station ran out of gas. It was an eerie feeling to think about it.
I also promptly got my fuel filter changed when I got home!

[Guest]

In 2000 in the UK groups of protestors blockaded oil refineries and fuel depots because of high road vehicle fuel tax.

The pumps soon started to run dry. People panicked.

First it was the busiest stations, at the supermarkets and in the city centres, then the main brands, and then the over-priced small independents. Then one by one they all ran out. Even the 'super' unleaded ran out. Diesel too.

Queues were incredible - they would go for 400 yards down the road. Even after midnight, at those stations that hadn't run out of fuel, queues still extended out onto the roads.

The next day, there were road-side traders, will wheelbarrows full of petrol cans selling them to whoever would pay the asking price. They ran out quickly.

As I don't drive to work, I remained smug in the fact that I had a full tank. But the cycle ride was amazing - the traffic level was probably less than half normal. Had people just stayed at home? Did that many people really need to fill their tanks every day?

The shortages only lasted a few days, but it brought the country to a virtual standstill.

Panic buying was blamed. As according to oil company statistics, there should have been enough reserve at all the stations to have completely absorbed the shortage.

Nevertheless, it gave an amazing insight into how dependent we are on transport fuel. One can only imagine that it would get worse were there a genuine shortage.