Pumping gas in your vehicle is routine, but it requires safety precautions. Gasoline is a highly inflammable material with potential hazards. Check out 11 things you should never do at gasoline outlets.
Keeping Your Vehicle Running
When you top off your vehicle tank, gasoline emits vapors. If you keep the engine on, it generates heat and electricity. Vapors can react with heat and electricity, possibly sparking a fire. The flames can spread due to spilled gas or contact with other inflammable materials.
Smoking
A cigarette was a likely cause of fire at a gas pump in Arkansas in an incident from 2017. There is a reason why gas stations display ‘no smoking’ signs loud and clear.
When you light a cigarette, it can ignite the fumes of highly combustible gasoline. The explosive mixture is potent enough to cause fire. Hence, do not smoke or throw smoldering cigarettes at gas stations. You should also not use matches or lighters when refueling your vehicle.
Re-entering Your Vehicle When Refueling
It is natural to want to get back into the vehicle at the time of pumping gas when the weather is too hot, cold, or rainy. Moving in and out of the vehicle builds up static electricity, which is a potential risk for fire. Static electricity caused a fire at Murdock Mini Mart gas station in 2021.
You can discharge static electricity by touching your vehicle handle or anything metal before you touch the pump handle.
Using Mobile Phone
The Petroleum Equipment Institute and Federal Trade Commission have cited that cellular telephones are unlikely to spark fire at gas stations. So, why is mobile phone usage not permitted while pumping gas?
Michael Marando, staff liaison for the National Fire Protection Association, explains that the real worry of using your phone while pumping gas is distraction. You may not pump the gas properly into the vehicle, or gasoline can spill.
Spilled gasoline can contact an ignition source, causing an explosion and fire. Also, switch off mobile chargers, as they carry static electricity.
Overfilling the Tank
Overfilling the tank carries hidden dangers. It can exert more pressure on the tank and damage the Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP), which prevents gasoline vapor from escaping from the tank. The gasoline can also overflow into your vehicle’s interior, exterior, or on the ground, leading to a fire hazard.
Do not fill the tank with a few extra gallons to save time and money. It’s not worth the risk.
Not Washing Gas Off Skin and Eyes
If you have spilled gasoline on yourself while pumping gas, letting it stay is a mistake. Gasoline contains poisonous ingredients that can adversely affect your eyes, ears, nose, skin, and other body parts.
Wash it off from the affected area with water for at least 15 minutes. Remove the clothes if they are soaked in gasoline.
Not Using the Right Container
The American Petroleum Institute recommends storing gasoline in an approved tank or container. Red safety cans are commonly used for this purpose.
Using any other container is a risky proposition. It may not be made from gasoline-friendly material, may not be spill-proof, or may not have a vapor barrier. If gasoline leaks onto any surface, it can kindle fire from static electricity, flame, hot surface, or spark.
Not Unlatching the Nozzle
If you are in a rush or are distracted, you might drive away with the gas nozzle latched onto your vehicle. While the gas hoses have breakaway nozzles to avert any significant calamity, there are some consequences to bear.
Your vehicle may get scratches or dents, resulting in repair costs. You also become responsible for paying money to compensate for damage to gas station equipment. The attached nozzle or gas hose can also cause accidents at the gas station or on the roads.
Leaving Children Alone in the Vehicle
A three-year-old left in a running truck at a Woodland gas station got into the driver’s seat and killed a two-year-old in a tragic incident. The truck owner had gone inside the gas station store.
While leaving children in the vehicle to prevent them from inhaling toxic fumes at the gas outlet is essential, never leave them alone. Ensure you don’t walk away from the vehicle; if you have to, they are supervised or accompanied by an adult.
Not Locking the Car Door
Locking the vehicle door while pumping the gas may seem unreasonable because it takes only a few minutes. However, letting the tank fill while you make a quick trip to the gas station store or washroom is unsafe.
Burglars or criminals may seize an opportunity to steal your unattended vehicle or valuables inside it. A woman reported her vehicle stolen at Park Ridge gas station after she had finished pumping gas.
Not Being Alert for Card Skimming
Aurora Police warned about undetectable card skimmers being installed by criminals at gas pump payment machines and ATMs. Thieves can steal your debit or credit card information through skimming.
Not checking for card skimming devices while pumping gas could be a big mistake. These devices are bulky and may be loose-fitting if not appropriately attached to the card reading machine. If you find anything suspicious, use an alternative payment method such as cash, digital wallet, or gas station gift cards.