Almost every pump I've ever used in the UK can reach to the far side of my car, so I don't even think about which side to go anymore.

Lots of people do though, and many petrol stations have big signs to try to educate people that the hose will reach if your filler cap is on the other side of the car.

Of course, if you're driving a big van that's not going to work out (and lorries have their own pumps and their own problems), but most cars is fine.

Every petrol station I use has hoses that pull out enough to reach the other side. I didn't realise there were places that weren't like this. People still queue up for 'their' side resulting in the occasional free cut to the front for me.

You also have the stations in dense cities in Japan where the pumps hang down from above (they're all full-service though I think) https://inthebentobox.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/tp4-6-gas-...

A friend noticed that people would pull up to the wrong side of the Costco pump, even if there was an open position on the more natural side. He was never able to figure out why someone would do that.