Lazy, mean and disorganised motorists run out of fuel

Running out of fuel is one of the most common reasons for a vehicle to breakdown – especially in winter according to the RAC Foundation.

Lazy motorists, frugal drivers trying to run on empty, a shortage of petrol stations, fuel strikes and garages miscalculating the fuel needed for their customers are all to blame for motorists running out of fuel. One whisper of a fuel shortage and petrol pumps run dry. In winter the problem becomes worse as vehicles use more fuel in cold weather and motorists join traffic jams in snow for long periods, burning fuel but making no progress. Whatever the reason, the problem can be easily be avoided.

Mail order specialist carparts-direct.co.uk has come up with a simple answer; the lazy motorists ‘Emergency Fuel Kit’. The latest safety designed TUV approved 20 litre steel jerry container is designed to carry petrol or diesel safely in the boot of a vehicle or can be stored in the garage at home. A pressurised cap with a special locking device is used for added safety. A flexible steel nozzle makes pouring fuel safe and easy. A jiggle siphon is supplied in case you need to extract fuel. It’s called a jiggle siphon because as you shake the hose it automatically feeds the fuel through. Latex gloves are also supplied to ensure the driver keeps clean during refilling.

Mark Cornwall of Car Parts Direct said "We supply the ‘Emergency Fuel Kit’ to garages, car sales people, car hire companies, boat owners and farmers. We have even supplied a batch of the kits to a scrap dealer who removes abandoned vehicles for the council; he claimed the fuel left in the cars was often worth more than the vehicle."

One motorist claimed he had ventured out three times to his stranded nineteen year old daughter’s Ford Fiesta, saying she was more likely to look in the vanity mirror than check her fuel gauge. The last time was 1am in the morning – now he makes sure she always carries spare fuel.

Motorists can be saved the embarrassment, discomfort and expense of being stranded on the hard shoulder of a busy motorway on a freezing cold winter’s night. The fuel kit may be a good investment too. Calling a garage out can cost up to £100 and that’s certainly not good news for a frugal motorist.