Learn to Drive | Safety at the Gas Pumps
As a new driver just learning how to drive a car you need to learn safety at the gas station. Gasoline is very inflamable and since most gas stations require you pump your own gas you need to learn what is required to stay safe.
Shell Oil Company issued a warning on the use of cell phones around gas pumps. There have been three incidents where cell phones ignited fumes at a gas pump. In learning to drive a car you have heard about the dangers of cell phone use in the car. Here is an additional reason why you should have your cell phone turned off when driving a car.
One incident happened when the phone was placed on the car’s trunk lid. When it rang it started a fire which destroyed the car and the gas pump. The second incident was caused when an individual answered a call while they were putting gas in the car. The fire caused severe facial burns. The third incident happeneed when the individual had the phone in their pants pocket. When it rang and ignited the fumes the individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin.
Rules for Cell Phones When Around Flamable Materials
1) At gas stations turn your cell phone off.
2) When fueling a lawn mower or any other gas powered machine, turn your cell phone off.
Safety Rules at the Gas Pump:
It also important as you learn how to drive to keep in mind all the safety rules around gas pumps.
1) Turn off engine
2) Don’t smoke
3) Don’t use your cell phone
4) Don’t re-enter your vehicle during fueling as static electricity may cause a fire
The Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI) has a campaign to create awareness of the dangers of ‘static electricity’ at gas pumps. PEI has researched 150 cases of gas pump fires. The findings were that most fires involved women getting back in their vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas. The fires started when these women went back to pull the nozzle out. Most had on rubber-soled shoes. Some fires started before, during or immediately after the gas cap was removed.
If you must get in your car while pumping gas do it from the side away from the pumps. When you get out discharge any static charge build-up by touching metal on the car. Do this before you pull the nozzle out of the gas tank.
Make sure that you practice doing the right steps at the gas pump as you learn how to drive a car. This will help make these steps automatic so they can become a habit.
