What should the driver do when he goes to refuel at a gas station? Surely this question appeared more than once in the tests you did at the driving school. The General Traffic Regulations establish a series of prohibitions for users when filling the tank in order to avoid a serious accident.
Thousands of liters of flammable fuels are stored at gas stations, so the indications must be taken very seriously to mitigate the potential danger they entail. Static energy and radiation are other factors that can put safety at risk. Next, we refresh all the rules for refueling, which you may have ignored after years of having examined yourself from the circulation theorist.
When you arrive at the gas station and after parking next to the pump, the first thing you should do is completely turn off the car's engine. You should also turn off the ignition to turn off all lights and the radio to prevent static buildup. When you get out of your vehicle, make sure you have closed all the doors. It is important to naturalize all these steps in case the gas station staff is absent or we go to a self-service station.
Static electricity, when in contact with fuel vapor, can cause accidents. The fibers of your clothing or rubbing against the upholstery can promote an electrostatic charge, but fortunately it is an unlikely risk that you can avoid. Always take the hose by the handle, never by the metal part, and do not touch the body of the car while refueling. Also avoid using your mobile phone while the tank is filling up, since in addition to distracting you, these devices emit electromagnetic radiation that can cause sparks.
The concentration of gases and high temperatures increase the chances of fire. Although both are flammable, gasoline is more volatile and less dense than diesel, so it is more likely to explode. Although it is an unlikely risk, a cigarette butt, a lighter or a match can cause a fatal accident. That is why smoking at a gas station is considered a distraction and is also punishable by fines of up to 100 euros.
The amount of fuel also affects the risk of explosion. An empty tank is more likely to explode than a full one. Drivers are advised not to let the needle drop below halfway before refueling. To reduce evaporation it is also advisable not to fill the tank completely, so leaving it at 95% of its capacity will prevent the gases from expanding.
