“Hi, my name’s Derek. I always see people using their cellphones at gas stations despite the posted warnings against cell phone use. To be honest, I have used cellphone countless times at gas stations and never faced any problem. So, my question is why gas stations put all these warnings, prohibiting cell phone usage. Thanks!”
“I cannot use my cellphone at the gas station? What a tragedy! What about the Instagram stories I could have made during the time I wasted pumping gas in the vehicle?”
Derek, if you feel the same way, you’re not alone. A lot of people want to make the most of their time pumping gas, but it’s not a good idea. While cellphones can’t ignite fires at gas stations, static electricity can.
Theoretically, when filling gas in your car, vapors around the pump nozzle can be ignited by static electricity on the phone and cause the fire can travel inside your car’s fuel tank. The next thing you know: BOOM! You’ve set your vehicle ablaze.
To avoid this frictional imbalance charge, aka static electricity, it’s important to avoid using a cellphone when filing up the gas. Remember, petrol vapors can catch fire easily, and the increased mobile radiation can serve as a catalyst to start one.
Is it legal?
In the United States, there’s no federal regulation that prohibits cellphone usage on gas stations; this means that you’re not breaking any law. That’s probably the reason you might see many people their cellphones at pumps.
Fortunately, there are not many fire incidents recorded at gas stations, but it’s not an invitation to use a mobile phone when fueling your vehicle. A simple search on YouTube will help you understand the gravity of the situation.
An analogy to give you a perspective…
Let’s put it this way; a plane crash rarely occurs, but all the planes are equipped with expensive, high-quality safety and are always prepared for surviving an accident. And it makes you feel safer when traveling thousands of miles above the ground.
Similarly, it only makes sense if you prepare for the worst-case scenario and not use a cellphone at gas stations. It will help eliminate the unknown risk of explosion and make you and people at the pump station safer and protected.
A message to gas station owners
Despite underwhelming documented evidence on fire hazards due to cellphone usage at gas stations, we encourage gas stations to print warnings that instruct drivers not to use a cellphone when fueling their vehicle.
While there’s no way to enforce the no-phone-use policies, it’s a good practice that will encourage people at gas stations to avoid using, if not turn off, their cellphones.
If you want to purchase the high-quality gas station and c-store equipment, get in touch with us today! At John W. Kennedy, we provide a wide range of gas stations and fuel equipment supplies at competitive rates. We’re currently offering a curbside pickup service to facilitate our customers during the COVID-19.
For more information about our products, call at 1 800 238 1225 today!