Why can't you use your mobile phone at a garage whilst filling up with petrol?

Hi there,

With older model phones there was a tiny possibility that a stray
spark could ignite some fuel and blow up a gas station / petrol
station / servo / garage.

Some phone manufacturers mentioned in their manuals that you shoudn't
operate your phone at a gas station, while also warning about using it
near other "potentially explosive" areas.

But basically there is no evidence of a phone ever causing an
explosion at a gas station, and it is mostly just urban myth and
unjustified paranoia.


Here are some articles on the matter:

Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association - It's a myth
http://www.amta.org.au/default.asp?Page=237

It's a hoax
http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/garage/phonehoax.htm

Some substance to it
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa062399.htm

They tested it on TV
http://lazylaces.com/article.asp?p=641

A technical look
http://www.peterharris.org.uk/roadsafety/mobilesandpetrol.htm


Search keywords: "mobile phone" "petrol station"

Best wishes,
robertskelton-ga

I just saw this week a show about this very subject...Myth /busters
actually put it to the test....here is the link, i know it doesn't
have the answer on it (too soon for them to post the findings, since
it's still airing i guess) but they did all the tests & nothing..no
spark..no fire....that my was busted!!
http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/about/about.html

Way back when, UK petrol stations had a problem with CB radios
interfering with the pumps' metering systems - in the customers'
favour. I'd always assumed (yes, I know!) that there was a similar
concern with mobile phones.

Ian G.