Petrol shortages: how panic buying is crippling Britain – and how long it could last

Petrol shortages: how panic buying is crippling Britain – and how long it could last

Why is there a petrol shortage? A lack of HGV drivers forced BP and Tesco to reduce deliveries of fuel and close a small number of petrol stations last week because they could not fully supply all sites. This sparked fears of shortages among motorists and has led to long queues outside many petrol stations. In reality, there is no shortage of fuel, but there are difficulties transporting it due to a lack of HGV drivers - a problem compounded by panic buying. Edmund King, president of the AA, blamed panic buying rather than supply issues for shortages over the weekend. Why are some petrol stations closing? While there may not be a fuel shortage among suppliers, the difficulties transporting fuel and the rush of panic buying has left many pumps dry. The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents almost 5,500 independent outlets, says panic buying is causing “really serious problems”, with around two-thirds of its members reporting that they have sold out of fuel and the rest of them “partly dry and running out soon”. Which forecourts still have fuel? The best way to know if a petrol station near you is still open is to check online, with local