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Kumoi: Ban oil tankers during daytime
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Posted on Jun 29 2000
The government may ban oil tankers from plying the islands’ streets during daytime for safety reasons if a proposed bill sponsored by Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero becomes a law.
The proposal, pending with the upper house, seeks to schedule delivery of fuel to gas service stations only at nighttime in an effort to prevent potential deadly accidents on the road.
Noting that some pumping stations are located near schools, Mr. Guerrero said an accident with more casualties could happen when tankers deliver fuel in the daytime.
“I have introduced the bill for safety reasons so that we could keep [delivery] away from schools when children are around,” he told in an interview yesterday. “The delivery should only be done at night.”
The restrictions should also be applied to tankers delivering aviation fuel to the airport, according to the senator, because its high octane gasoline could prove to be more prone to explosion just by a single spark.
If service stations, including those in the airport for aviation fuel, can be expanded for larger holding tanks, then the oil companies like Mobil and Shell will not be affected badly by the proposed ban, Mr. Guerrero said.
He added that the measure has been prompted by calls from the public who have raised concern on the practice by tankers to deliver gas rations when roads are busy and people are out in the streets.
“I believe it will not affect their business. It’s for precautionary measures… to eliminate the dangers,” said Mr. Guerrero, adding that in most U.S. states and in Hawaii, the delivery is scheduled after midnight when traffic is not choked.
