Colm O'Regan: End of the road for the good old petrol station 

The traditional petrol station is disappearing fast, and with it human contact and the possibility of finding anyone who actually knows about cars.  Picture: PA

It’s 10.30pm. My wife, the eldest, and I are huddled in blustery darkness in the front of the car, eating a McDonald's at Exit 8 while the youngest snores in the back. We are having a Whale of a Time. When three people eat fast food in the front of a car at night, it’s like every stakeout in every film. 

Petrol stations didn’t used to be like this. We wanted motorways and we got them.