why mobiles are not allowed in petrol pumps

Since time immemorial, humans have sought to look for shortcuts to make life easier. We seek out the quick and easy route that will get us where we need to go while spending less of our money. However, with this quest comes the risk of sliding into poverty or a lack of security if we don’t take care when navigating around what sounds like a straightforward task. One common method people use for getting where they need is by driving cars...

The use of mobile phones and loud music can also create a negative environment, with some motorists treating the petrol station forecourt as if it were their own private territory.

 

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The use of mobile phones and loud music can also create a negative environment, with some motorists treating the petrol station forecourt as if it were their own private territory. While owner-drivers are often the worst culprits for this behavior, we sometimes see that passengers may instigate this poor behavior from behind the wheel. Petrol station attendants have reported dealing with these behaviors on a daily basis, with many experiencing ill-mannered behavior from people who simply do not know any better because they have never experienced what it is like to work in this environment.

According to a survey conducted by the community site, servicereview.com.au, attendants have revealed that the amount of negative behavior they experience on a daily basis is astonishing. The survey was launched to find out more about their work environment, with the results showing that over 80% (or four in five) petrol station attendants had been verbally abused and harassed by a customer at some point in their career. Of those surveyed, over 65% had experienced this on a daily basis with young men aged between 18 and 25 being the most likely to be rude and abusive towards them.

Just under 60% of attendants surveyed said they had also experienced physical abuse while at work, with the most common instances being people spitting on them or throwing garbage towards them. This can range from verbal abuse, to physical attack and sometimes even theft.

 

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Every industry in Australia is required to have a Code of Conduct and the petrol station industry is no exception, with owner-drivers and businesses required to abide by this law. According to The Australian Consumer Law for Motor Fuel Retailers, all motorists are required to act in accordance with these rules whether they are aware of them or not. The Code of Conduct states that petrol station owners, employees and contractors are not allowed to:

• Drive or park a motor vehicle in the forecourt while they are waiting to be serviced.

• Display in the forecourt anything (including, but not limited to, mobile phone numbers and advertisements) which, directly or indirectly:

- is likely to cause annoyance, inconvenience or apprehension; or

- is likely to cause traffic congestion.

If you see someone breaking these rules, please call the police on 131 444. You can also use the Service Review website for any further information and guidance on how you can report these incidents online...(more from