“Switch off your mobile phone.” It’s the first thing you see when you enter a gas station, but most of the us tend to forget it, but then most of us are not strict followers of rules isn’t it? But what does happen when you use your mobile in a petrol bunk?
Here is a real incident video that is posted by Hyderabad traffic police for creating awareness.
Now here is the science and reason behind warnings about non usage of mobile phones in gas stations:
At this point, we all know that these devices are low-power radio-frequency transmitters (between 450 and 2700 MHz), with a peak power value that ranges between 0.1 and 2 watts. Can they really have an impact in a petrol station?
As explained in Naukas, the two greatest dangers related to the use of mobile phones are the possibility of explosion or fire. Could something like that happen if you keep your phone turned on at the petrol station? Science says no, because these devices emit very little energy (less than 1 W/cm2).
The only way that a mobile phone could generate a spark at a petrol station would be due to a defective battery, which is unlikely and could also occur in the case of the car’s own battery. While the possibility is remote, there is a low risk that an explosion could occur from the gases that are emitted by the hose and not from the fuel.
The truth is that the use of mobile phones is probably more dangerous as a source of distraction than as the possible source of an explosion. According to a report from the Petroleum Equipment Institute, there are no documented incidents at petrol stations related to fires or explosions caused by the use of mobile phones.
In short, the scientific evidence does not support the hypothesis that these devices cause serious accidents. However, you should remember that using mobiles at petrol stations can also result in people being run over, carelessness with the car and other pedestrians, etc.
So there you go!! Next time you visit a gas station. KINDLY SWITCH OFF YOUR MOBILE PHONES!!!!
