A furious driver has called out a fellow motorist's astonishing lack of 'servo etiquette' after she abandoned her car at a busy fuel pump to enjoy a leisurely coffee, causing a significant queue to build.
The Infuriating Wait at the Bowser
Ashlee Day, from Sydney, was waiting patiently in line to refuel her car. The driver ahead of her had just finished filling up at the bowser and walked into the service station shop. Assuming she was simply paying at the counter, Ashlee waited. However, after ten minutes had passed, the woman still hadn't returned to her vehicle.
Confused and increasingly frustrated as cars on other pumps flowed through, Ashlee decided to investigate. To her disbelief, she discovered the driver was not completing a transaction. "I can't make this up... She's in the corner sitting down having a coffee with a guy," Ashlee explained in a video that has since gone viral.
A Viral Debate on Common Courtesy
In her clip, viewed over 120,000 times, Ashlee expressed her shock, questioning the driver's rudeness. She pointed out the woman had walked past her and smiled, despite knowing a line of vehicles was waiting. "Why are you parking at the bowser?" Ashlee asked rhetorically. She eventually moved to another pump, noting the driver showed no sign of hurrying.
The incident has ignited a fierce online debate about the unspoken rules of petrol stations. The overwhelming consensus sided with Ashlee, condemning the behaviour as "beyond rude" and a clear breach of common decency. Many commenters reinforced the standard etiquette: if you need more time after fuelling, you must move your car to a designated parking bay.
The Public's Verdict on 'Servo Etiquette'
The reaction from the public was swift and damning. One person stated plainly, "Oh hell no. If it's busy, you fuel up, move your car, park then go pay." Another agreed, "You want a coffee? You move your car! Totally rude."
Several shared their own experiences of similar frustrations, with one revealing, "A few days ago I had something similar happen. Except she got back in the car after paying and ate whatever servo food she bought. They were there for 15 minutes."
Interestingly, a petrol station employee also weighed in, confirming such behaviour is often not tolerated. "I work at a servo. We ask them to move their car if they want to get food and drinks. Because it's not a car park," they explained.
The incident, while a 'first world problem' as Ashlee admitted, has clearly struck a chord. It highlights a widespread expectation of consideration in shared public spaces, with the basic principle being not to unnecessarily inconvenience others. For many, the anxiety of holding someone up is enough to ensure they never commit a similar faux pas.
