A driver has amusingly taken to TikTok to share with fellow motorists a handy dashboard symbol that many seem unaware of, which could prevent an all-too-common petrol station blunder.
Sam Stuart recalled her recent mistake as she admitted to reaching the ripe age of 40 before discovering the small arrow that indicates which side to fill up on. “I pulled into the petrol station and realised I was on the wrong side,” she recounted in a video.
“I was having to drag the hose over the back of my car just to fill it up.” Amid her frustration at the time, she said she spotted a man in the adjacent car who seemed amused by her predicament. “He said to me, ‘Do you not realise there’s something on your dial to show you what side you need to fill up on?'”
Continuing from within her car on her clip, Sam shared her newfound knowledge: “I had literally had no idea. Look – there’s a little arrow and that’s what side you fill the car up on. How did I get to this age and not know that? Well I guess as they say, ‘Every day is a school day’.”
Viewers were quick to engage, with revelations emerging across the comments. One user asserted: “I spent 40 years in the motor trade and I swear I didn’t know this until about 10 years ago.”
Another person chimed in: “I told my husband this the other day as he didn’t know either – he’s 47.” The revelation continued to trigger astonishment, with one user noting: “I didn’t know until recently and I’m 67!”
A fourth shared their surprise: “I’m 70 and I didn’t know that either. Thanks.” Whilst a fifth TikTok user added, “I’m 61 and only just found out.”
Some drivers were quick to clarify that the fuel indicator arrow isn’t a universal feature, however. “Some don’t have the arrow, but then you use which side the little filler pipe is on, on the picture,” one driver pointed out, adding: “Like yours is the same side as arrow.”
And another motorist shared their experience: “I have two Renault traffic vans and this isn’t the case – should be, but isn’t.”
Earlier this week, meanwhile, motorists received a stark warning that petrol car sales could plummet within three years as electric vehicles (EVs) are poised to take over UK roads. Reports suggest that by 2027, EVs and petrol cars will each hold around 34% of the market share.
Research indicates that EVs could account for 24% of sales this year and rise to 30% by 2026, aligning with last year’s government target of 22%. However, despite these projections, the market share for battery vehicles has stagnated over the past two years.
To meet the UK’s ambitious goals of phasing out new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and hybrids by 2035, a significant increase in EV adoption is necessary.
