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Phones on the Forecourt: Are They Really Dangerous?

Gilbarco Veeder-RootFebruary 28, 2020Fueling Solutions,
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You see these warnings on gas pumps all the time, so what’s the deal?

Full Disclosure: This blog was inspired by the Instagram video below.

 

 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Influencers in the Wild (@influencersinthewild)

Someone in the comments said, “Great way to accidently blow up the gas station here. Big brain time”

Is it?

The answer is no. So why the warnings?

In the early days of cell phones, there were rumors that mobile devices could create sparks and cause fires. That caused many municipalities to require the warning stickers on gas pumps we still see today, according to forecourt solutions expert, Danny Seals. For many cities and towns, those rules are still on the books despite the threat being proven harmless.

The FCC has even put out a statement about it in recent years:

The Federal Communications Commission has been alerted to reports and rumors that suggest it is dangerous to use a wireless phone while filling your vehicle with gas or in the presence of flammable materials.

The rumors and reports may be fueled by warnings posted at gas stations or included in wireless phone owners’ manuals suggesting that wireless phones should not be used around fuel vapors.

The wireless industry has done studies on the potential for wireless phones to create sparks that could possibly ignite flammable materials. The studies generally conclude that while it may be theoretically possible for a spark from a cell phone battery to ignite gas vapor under very precise conditions, there is no documented incident where the use of a wireless phone was found to cause a fire or explosion at a gas station.

We do want to emphasize that we are experts on gas stations and convenience stores, not mobile devices. But as a company, Gilbarco Veeder-Root follows all industry and regulatory developments on behalf of our customers.

That said, we are not aware of any U.S. federal regulations regarding mobile phone usage on the forecourt, which means there’s nothing legally stopping you from doing this:

 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gilbarco Veeder-Root (@gilbarcoveederroot) on Sep 21, 2018 at 6:50am PDT

Or this.

 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gilbarco Veeder-Root (@gilbarcoveederroot) on Jan 24, 2020 at 9:13am PST

Or this.

 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gilbarco Veeder-Root (@gilbarcoveederroot) on Apr 5, 2019 at 12:08pm PDT

Or this.

 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gilbarco Veeder-Root (@gilbarcoveederroot) on Aug 9, 2018 at 8:57am PDT

All we ask is that you tag us when you post. 😊

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