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Did you hear the one about how talking on a cell phone while you’re at the gas pump can cause an explosion? Well, it’s not true…but there is something important to learn from it.
The stories started a few years ago and told about how someone who was talking on the cell phone while refueling his car ended up in the middle of a frightening gas pump explosion. Drivers were urged not to talk on the phone while gassing up. The Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) has studied this problem extensively.
The study found that it’s static electricity that causes the danger. Static buildup comes from many sources, but the danger for drivers occurs when they get back in their cars while refueling. So imagine the scenario: you’re filling up your car’s gas tank, and you hear your cell phone ring. You open the car door and get the phone, talk to your friend, and then return back to the pump to finish fueling. THAT’s when the explosion happens.
It wasn’t the cell phone that caused the explosion at the pump. It was the static electricity that built up when you entered the car and talked on the phone. You left the phone in the car, but touched the gas pump with your static-charged hands. And that caused the spark and explosion.
Static electricity is the same phenomenon that happens when you scuff your feet across the carpet and then touch something metal. You see a small spark, and you feel a little jolt. That’s a small amount of static electricity. When you’re at the gas station and you get back in the car, and then return to the pump, you create a larger version of the carpet-scuffing scenario. And when you have a spark near gasoline, that’s dangerous.
What to do? Staying off the cell phone while refueling is still a good idea. It’s better to give this job your full attention. But beyond that, make sure you turn off your car’s engine, don’t smoke while refueling, and never re-enter your vehicle while refueling. The PEI has launched a campaign called STOP STATIC to educate drivers on the dangers of static at the gas pumps. You may see PEI posters at your local filling station, or you can visit their website to learn more. You can read their information at http://www.pei.org/.
Published 11/02/07
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