If you add fuel, be careful with static electricity!

Sometimes we don’t realize that there are things that put our safety at risk and the consequences can be quite serious. So one of the worst things you can do when refueling is to get back in the car and get out. That said, if you add fuel, be careful with static electricity!

If you add fuel, be careful with static electricity!

A Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) study looked at 176 gas station fires in which no open flames, running engines or electrical continuity problems were evident. Surprisingly, almost 50% of these cases occurred when the driver returned to their car while refueling and subsequently touched the nozzle after exiting the vehicle. “Static electricity from our body to the gun’s metal nozzle can lead to a spark.” “That spark is enough to ignite any of the vapors around the tip of the nozzle.”

To help car owners mitigate this risk, there is a simple but effective precautionary measure. This involves the driver touching a metal part of the car with their hand after getting out, such as a door or any other metal surface that is not close to the fuel tank. This action helps disperse any static charge, reducing the chance of a spark and ensuring a safer refueling experience. Although it may initially seem excessive, remaining outside your vehicle while refueling is a fundamental safety practice with plenty of evidence to support it.

But there are other important security measures. Turning off all charging accessories also ensures that your car does not produce electricity while refueling. This can be easily overlooked, but even with the vehicle turned off, some accessories – particularly those with frayed wires – continue to store energy within them. Although it is highly unlikely to cause significant problems, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.