Why are we supposed to turn our cellphones off when we are within 25 ft of the pump?
69Gasoline fumes and electrical sparks don't mix
We have all been advised to turn our cellphones off when we are near a gas pump. While there is probably very little danger from the gasoline itselt, there is a much greater danger from the gas fumes.
Have you ever smelled the gas fumes when you are pumping gas? Unless you are using one of the latest gasoline nozzles where the fumes are captured, there are gas fumes all around you when you are pumping gas. If your cellphone shoud ring or otherwise create some small electrical charge while you are standing in the mist of the gas fumes, you could find yourself in the middle of an explosion. Once you have that initial explosion, there is no real limit to where the fire could spread.
While I do not profess to be a safety engineer, the potential danger will depend on a number of things. First is the amount of gasoline fumes in the air. If it is a windy day and the fumes are quickly dispersed, there is probably little danger. Second, the cellphone would need to create some electrical spark or charge. It is not an automatic occurance.
You should understand that the danger is not just from talking on the phone. The danger is created when the phone creates some electrical charge or spark which can be triggered from an incoming call, whether you answer it or not.
The bottom line is you never can predict if the phone will ring or create a spark from something else. Nor can you predict the accumulation of gas fumes around you. So the safe thing is to turn your phone off. You could also leave it in the car while you are pumping gas.
I have seen numerous people chatting away while they were pumping gas. But I have seen stories of these explosions that were created from the gas fumes and an electrical spark created from the cellphone. While the chance it might happen appears to be small, if it happens to you, you are still in a lot of danger.
I am not sure that I have ever had a call that was so urgent that I needed to risk the danger of an explosion. I think we all assume it will never happen to us. It is a freak accident, but they do happen. Better to play it safe.
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Sally .. you make an excellent point that I had totally overlooked. The danger is not just to the person taking the risk. Should all the conditions be just right, lots of innocent folks could also be harmed.
I know it was not asked, but like you I have a lot of trouble and little tolerance for reckless people who endanger others with their self-centered activities ... be using the cell phone near the gas pumps, while driving or any other activity. I even dislike folks who share half of their phone conversation while I am in the airport, the grocery or the restaurant.
Yes indeed, we have become a selfcentered, selfimportant silly society since the scourge of the cell phone.
I live in fear of the LA freeways I must drive. I abhor the grocery and TMI (too much information), "Hang up and push that cart already! And by the way, if I were you honey, I'd dump the fool."
And yet, I recall the days when I lived in a loft in downtown Los Angeles. A place crowded with the mentally ill living in the streets. Then it was they who would walk down the streets hands free, having a conversation with someone, seemingly not there. I took note of this, because I found it an interesting juxtaposition between those who have nothing and those who view their technology as everything.
I agree with Sally, the mechanics involved in cellphones makes them sort of risky.
I remember the first time I was to use a cellphone, I received warnings from a friend about the electromagnetic radiations from the cellphone, about how it could mess with your head if used at low network connectivity conditions and battery levels.
Simply, I decided to use a hands-free for long duration calls and at times when the network connectivity isn't all that excellent.
Thank you for answering this request John. I learned something new. I hope people will turn off their cellphones when pumping gas. I know I will.
This is so useful because I didn't know that that's what could happen!!!
Great information. It amazes me the people that cannot wait turn their phone off for five minutes. What if you have children or pets in the car when it explodes? what about the safety of people around you at other pumps? It is scary that people know the danger yet they ignore it. Great hub! Rated up. :)
so if there is call on our cellphone how was that if that is important??? and there is a message then that was a special connection how was that???? thank you for your concern
There is zero risk of a cell phone starting a gas fire. None. The static each person generates walking or moving is the greatest "danger" after the vehicle that you are filling up itself.
I don't understand why people get so riled up about this. They passed a law saying you can't use cellphones while driving... and the reason for that? Because it actually happened in numerous incidents.
I use my cellphone all the time at the pump and not once ever has it presented a danger to me or anybody around me. I have never heard of any cellphone setting off any fire in any gas station anywhere. I understand the laws of physics explaining how static and gasoline fumes don't mix well. What I also understand, is that there is virtually no risk of explosion.
Perhaps somebody can dig up an article somewhere and educate me on actual statistics of this "danger"? For now, I'll go by the information in THIS link: http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp
Sally's Trove 4 years ago
Why is it that so many idiots talk on a cell phone while pumping gas when the warnings against this activity are right in front of their faces? They don't even have to know how to read to get the message. Wherever there's a written warning, there's also an international "DON'T" symbol with a cell phone inside it.
Actually, I can answer that "Why?" question. There are two reasons.
One, often people don't read even when they are asked to because they believe they already know everything they need to know.
Two, people might read a clear warning, but they are so consumed with their own self-importance and arrogant belief in their own immortality that they figure the warning doesn't apply to them.
I know better than to have a turned-on cell phone near me while hanging around a gas pump. But I didn't know exactly why it was a bad idea. Thanks to the excellent information in your hub, now I do.
And just in case you couldn't tell, this reckless behavior which can endanger so many others royally ticks me off! Thanks for listening. I feel better now. :)