Subscribe now

Letter: Letters: Trigger happy

Published 22 June 1991

From GRAHAM CHAMBERS

In Luxembourg – and in my experience most other West European countries
– the trigger on petrol delivery hoses in filling stations has a small lever
attached whose function is to lock the trigger in position while filling
up the tank, thus relieving sore or arthritic fingers and allowing motorists
to distance themselves a little from the unpleasant fumes of (especially
unleaded) petrol.

In England at least (I can’t speak for Scotland or Wales), this lever
on the trigger never works because the small metal bar against which it
locks is simply not there. At first I assumed that this was a case of English
vandalism on a par with non-working air hoses and suchlike, but it would
be a strange sort of vandal who would go around knocking out the (very small)
pin concerned.

Is there some sort of UK legislation forbidding the use of this very
handy little device, or is it petrol company or filling station policy?

Graham Chambers Luxembourg

Issue no. 1774 published 22 June 1991

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop