We’ve all been there. You’re on an important cell phone call on Bluetooth while your driving and realize you’re low on gas. Once you get to the station, your subconscious tells you to end the call, but do you really need to?
The rumors began years ago when gas stations posted signs warning consumers to not use their cell phones at the pumps. Some cell phone companies even went as far as warning their customers in cell phone manuals. Soon enough, most people started to question whether or not their phones would cause a spontaneous explosion at the gas station.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has done several studies on this issue, but they have yet to find a single documented case of a cell phone-caused explosion. This doesn’t mean that it cannot happen, but the chances are pretty slim. It should also be noted that some gas stations still do not allow cell phones at specific locations.
Now, let me share my personal experience with cell phones at gas stations.
A couple years ago, after my dad had informed me that this was, in fact, an urban legend, I began using my phone at the gas station again. One specific time, as I was getting out of the car to swipe my card and begin fueling, an older man walks up to me and literally yells, “Don’t talk on your phone while you’re getting gas, are you stupid?!”
Many people still buy into the widely-spread belief that cell phones cause explosions at gas stations. From mass emails with tall tales of kids exploding to rogue Facebook posts, it’s hard not to believe it.
Talking on your cell phone is not a proven risk, as long as you’re prepared to get hassled by your fellow citizens who choose to not talk on the phone at the pump. If you choose to take the leap and chat while fueling, make sure it’s not prohibited at your gas station, and always use a Bluetooth headset/car-set while driving.
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Isn’t it possible that sliding across the seat, either on entry or exit of the car might cause a spark?
Check into this.
The biggest danger when handling Fuel is an open flame or spark igniting the fumes that can escape during the fueling process. Open pilot flames on older RV’s can and have cause fuel fires at gas stations. But the biggest problem can be static electricity. Every time you enter and exit your car you can potentially generate a static charge on your person, Women are more susceptible due to the fabrics they wear, Then when you reach for the fuel nozzle in your car it can spark and cause the fuels to ignite causing an explosion and severe burns.
This can be prevented by grounding yourself when you exit your car by touching a metal surface before reaching for the fuel handle. Also minimize entering and exiting the car while fueling.
See the following links for more information and precautions.
http://www.cfs.purdue.edu/extension/pdf/gaspump-handout-long.pdf
http://www.esdjournal.com/static/fires_files/fires.htm
http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/static.asp
A google search for statc discharge fuel fires will bring up other information and videos that describe and document this hazard.
Hi,
Thanks for your question. If the cell phone was sliding alone, this scenario is highly unlikely. However, if the cell phone is with a person, the phone could build up a charge which sparks when the person stands on the ground and touches the door frame. While there have not been any reported cases of fire from cell phone charge, the easiest way to prevent this is leaving your phone in your car while refueling. I hope this has answered your question!
-Danielle
The only way I can think of to make it happen would be for the motor that makes it vibrate to ignite the fumes, so you would need a combustible mix (note, saturated is too rich, and will not burn, so if your phone is dunked, it will only briefly be a risk), and have something make your phone trigger its vibrate mode.
So I’m not worrying about it.