In spite of long queues at petrol stations, Lebanese drivers continued yesterday to behave as though there is no today or tomorrow.
The roads of the capital and the main mountain towns and villages are choked with cars belonging to both locals and refugees from the south.
Many petrol stations are closed, others receive limited supplies and open only from 9pm to 11pm. Civilian vehicles are given six litres, taxis 20.
But nothing stops drivers from going from pump to pump to secure more except the wait, which can last an hour or two.
Government electricity rationing and a lack of fuel for private generators are, however, forcing households and businesses to limit consumption.
Beirut's days are hot and humid without air conditioning and nights are long and dark.
Two tanker ships laden with fuel destined for the city are sitting at Larnaca in Cyprus. The ships' captains have demanded a written guarantee from the Israeli navy before making the 125-mile voyage through the Israeli blockade.
While they have reportedly received guarantees, they have not set sail. Ibrahim Baltaji, the chief pilot at Beirut port, said: "The Israelis are allowing only humanitarian aid and warships into the port. No cargo ships are permitted to come." Mr Baltaji's family has been in charge of the port for more than a century. His son is a pilot, as is his nephew.
"The post of chief pilot has passed from father to son since Ottoman times," he said. "If there is no fuel within a few days, there will be longer and longer electricity cuts, everything will come to a stop." At this point hospitals and essential services will be given priority and civilians will suffer.
A plan to avert shortages and keep the power plants working by importing fuel overland from neighbouring Syria was scotched yesterday when Israel bombed two bridges on the main highway from northern Lebanon to Beirut.
Last weekend Israeli warplanes destroyed the highway to Damascus which could also have been used to transport fuel.
Vehicle circulation could be cut by half if a fresh supply of petrol is not delivered by Sunday.
Some station owners are already raising the price. Beirut's main fuel storage tanks at Jiyyeh were attacked by Israel on July 13th and 15th and are still blazing.
Shopkeepers have dusted off small civil war vintage (1975-91) generators and positioned them on the paths in front of their shops. But they may soon fail to find fuel to run them.
Patrick Ogden Smith, managing director of Smith's supermarket, said he has no problem with fuel oil. The supermarket's large generator has enough spare capacity to run an internet centre and sell some to the neighbours. "They suffer from the noise and the fumes, so we cannot refuse to give them some. Petrol for deliveries is a problem. Fresh fruits and vegetables are abundant.
"But the lack of money is a major factor. Our suppliers want full payment with deliveries as well as the settling of old accounts. But many of our customers cannot pay because the economy is in trouble.
"The banks refuse to give us money. The aftermath of the bombing will be economic disaster, in the short-term."
While reconstruction funds could eventually flow into the country and boost the economy, he said: "This will take time."
Time is not on the side of Lebanese who have no fuel, no petrol, no jobs, and no money. "We are trapped," said a young taxi driver. "I am from a village near Tyre in the south. My wife and I have three kids. Our house was bombed flat by the Israelis with everything inside. All we have is this car. We are living in a school.
"We are prepared to go wherever I can work - to Europe, Brazil, Argentina. Anywhere.
"But no one wants us and our passports are buried beneath the house."