1. What is a ‘precautionary culture’, what are ‘rumours’ and how does a precautionary culture encourage rumours to spread?
The “precautionary culture” is concerned with new science and technology that involves considerable uncertainties. Precaution is a kind of response to uncertain or ambiguous situation.
In turn, precautionary measures rather than to protect against a defined hazard, may have the potential to encourage the creation or seeking out of rumours. They can be easily translated and spread due to lack of information, knowledge or everyday experience.
Rumour is defined as “information spread without secure standards of evidence”.
2. What are the substantive risks to safety of using a mobile phone in a petroleum service station?
According to the official UK regulatory policy, the substantive risk to safety using mobile phone at petrol stations is potential distraction whilst refueling and speaking on a mobile phone at the same time. Mobile phones don’t cause a fire or explosion but can be distracting when filling a vehicle with highly flammable petrol. This is why some petrol stations have signs asking customers not to use mobiles.
3. How does the author explain the continued prohibition on mobile phone use in service stations?
The author argues that the continued prohibition was provided by the existence of restrictions at petrol stations and warnings in mobile phone handbooks. Moreover, the validation of such measures was sustained by official restrictions and warnings from oil companies.
The prohibition continues because of the wider context of a precautionary culture.
4. What are the dangers of the spread of rumours?
As I understand, rumors are itself the product of uncertainty that generates more uncertainty. And the unknown thing causes a concern and even fear. In the wartime fear equals to panic, and panic, in turn, leads to a loss of the ability to resist. In this sense, the spread of rumors is very dangerous for the state. To sum up the rumors may negatively impact on human attitudes, opinions and behavior. As result of it they can affect political events. 