‘Refuelling your car is treated too casually in the UAE’

Motorists are being reminded to practice proper safety measures when refueling their vehicles.

The Enoc petrol station on Al Quds Street in Dubai was destroyed after a SUV caught fire last week. Authorities are investigating the incident. Satish Kumar / The National

ABU DHABI // Motorists are being urged to turn off their engines while refuelling, refrain from smoking and make sure the hose is returned to the pump before driving away, to prevent vehicles from catching fire.

“Refuelling your car is treated too casually in the UAE,” said Robert Hodges, chief operating officer at Emirates Driving Institute in Dubai. “It’s an almost everyday occurrence to which people do not pay enough attention nor take enough care.”

Motorists are not turning off their engines, often leaving the vehicle while an attendant refuels it and the driver lights up a cigarette, he said.

“The risk of cars catching fire at petrol stations is very high in the UAE when you take into consideration the high ambient temperature,” said Dr Salaheddine Bendak, an associate professor at the University of Sharjah, who said many drivers “also take off while the hose is still connected”.

Other common mistakes are using mobile phones during refuelling or near cars being refuelled. Vehicle occupants also use laptops and touch-screen tablets, Mr Hodges said.

“These are potentially dangerous with the risk that using these devices can cause electrical charges due to finger-friction on the screen, thereby producing a small static voltage,” he said.

On Saturday, a white SUV caught fire at a petrol station in Dubai, which spread to the forecourt. Authorities are investigating the incident.

“Smoking is strictly prohibited inside or near a service station according to decree No. 24 issued by the Cabinet of Ministers. Violators will be subject to the law,” reads a sign at an Adnoc petrol station in Khalidiya. There are also signs asking people to switch off their engines and to not use their mobile phones.

“I’ve seen people smoke cigarettes while filling up their car,” said Glenn Havinoviski, a transport expert in Abu Dhabi.

“While people may feel safe doing it inside their car, if your windows are down, it might be another issue.”

In most regions, individuals fill up their own cars. Because attendants do it in the UAE, this “should make it safer than in other places”, Mr Havinoviski said. “However, I have seen taxi drivers fill up their own cars.”

Those who fill up their vehicles should ensure the fuelling nozzle is fully pushed into the fuel filler neck, Mr Hodges said.

“In this way, it will minimise liquid or vapour returning upwards from the fuel pipe.”

In the UAE, petrol dispensing hoses and nozzles are somewhat “old-tech” and do not have vapour traps as some do in Europe and North America, he said.

“In my view all petrol pumps and nozzles should be brought up to international best practice standards as soon as possible.”

Service station attendants and employees always advise customers directly whenever they notice any risky behaviour, and to adhere to safety, security and health procedures at stations, said Khalid Hadi, vice president of marketing and corporate communications at Adnoc Distribution.

“We recommend that motorists do not leave cars unattended while refuelling the tank to prevent traffic congestion at the service stations,” he said. “Customers are advised to start their vehicles again only after the return of the hose to the fuel dispenser.”

Attendants at Adnoc petrol stations in the Manaseer and Khalidiya areas said most of their customers leave their engines running while refuelling.

“We advise them to switch off their engines but they don’t,” a staff member said.

“They get upset and tell us that other drivers also don’t turn off their engines.”

Khaled Al Bashtawi, from Jordan, left his car running while refuelling in Khalidiya.

“I know we should turn our engines off but it’s very hot,” he said. “I think about 90 per cent of people here don’t, especially during the summer.

“In the winter time, some switch off their engines.”