I blew up a gas station..almost!

[fannsx]

I was returning home from NYC and stopped at a gas station in NJ.
I asked for $20 of regular(for my minivan) and gave the attendant my credit card.
He started the pump and gave me back the credit card and a receipt to sign a short moment later.
I assumed he finished pumping already when he gave me back the card. I started the car and put it into drive and let of the brake paddle. The car started to move and I checked my side mirror only to see the gas hose was still attached to my car.
The attendant forgot to remove it after he finished pumping.
I thought that was a close one. I could have done what Jenson Button did in one of this years' races pulling out of the pit with the refueling hose attached.

 

[steveny]

Last year I was at a gas station where someone pulled the handle hose and pump right off the concrete. The handle and hose came off the pump right before it was totally ripped off the line that goes into the ground. I ran top speed as far a way as I could. Scary

 

[nchopp]

Well, generally they have break-away hoses, but still...

 

[splitz]

There are still full service stations out there?

 

[clr1024]

There are still full service stations out there?

Some places, like Martha's Vineyard and I believe portland, maybe all of Oregon, its the law that you can't pump your own gas. Personally I prefer to do it myself, no drips etc on the paint.

 

[matteni]

Those break away pump handles are designed to pull apart without starting a fire. They have this happen at least once a week / gas station.

I admit I have even done this. :redface:

It was 2 weeks after our second child. I started to pump up the van after several all nighters and went inside to get something.

I got back in my car and completely forgot I was pumping and pulled away and got about 50 feet before I stopped to check my tires and realized what I had done. There were people all around looking terrified and bewildered and I had to take the hose off, walk it back in front of everyone, go inside and confess my sin.

The kid told me it happens all the time and not to worry about it. They were happy I at least brought it back and it was not damaged. Some people drive off for miles before they realize what has happened!

 

[DrVolkl]

Some places, like Martha's Vineyard and I believe portland, maybe all of Oregon, its the law that you can't pump your own gas. Personally I prefer to do it myself, no drips etc on the paint.

Last I checked, you can't pump your own gas in Oregon or New Jersey.

 

[LeftLane]

In high school my girlfriend met me out for a date and she had the hose from a gas pump still dangling from her fuel tank. She pulled away and drove miles without ever realizing what she had done. She had nitrogen where brain matter would normally be.

 

[Ray Rodriguez]

Dont ever hand your credit card to the gas attendant, the last time I did that, it was in New Jersey turnpike, they stoled my number & went shopping 3 months later & spent over $2000 before the credit card company closed my account.

 

[NSXGMS]

 

[ABhagat]

Its actually really common, whether by accident or otherwise. Our retail locations have this problem at least once a month per location. I remember a couple years ago a mpd at an uncle's c-store caught on fire from this happening, I'm not sure how the entire location didn't turn into an inferno.