Most gas stations `fail' safety tests

The Consumers' Foundation said that more than 90 percent of local gas stations run the risk of explosions given lax safety measures.

In a press briefing yesterday, the foundation said that workers at 93 percent of the 189 gas stations in 11 cities and counties it surveyed failed to remind motorists to follow safety regulations.

In addition, 83 percent of the gas stations surveyed failed to urge drivers to turn off their engines, and 58 percent failed to advise motorists and passengers against smoking and from using their mobile phones in gas stations, the poll said.

A total of 175 out of the 189 gas stations break at least one of these safety rules, according to the poll which was conducted between Nov. 14 and 28.

The foundation said that only 14 gas stations out of the 189 surveyed passed the three important safety tests.

National Petroleum Corp (全國加油站) had the worst performance, with 68 percent of its stations failing all three indicators, followed by Mech-President Corp (統一精工), Chinese Petroleum Corp (中油) and Formosa Petrochemical Corp (台塑石化), the foundation said.