[AT] Waaay OT_Cell Phone Idiots

[Henry Miller]

On Monday 13 March 2006 14:53, Bill Thompson wrote:
> Very interesting.... I wonder why all the gas stations waste money putting
> up those signs if its an urban legend. What's your opinion about the static
> electricity warnings.  I've seen video on TV of that, but maybe that's a
> hoax too.

How many gas station owners have taken physics?    For that matter, how many 
city console members have?   (In many cases the signs are there because of 
local laws which forbid using a cell phone when pumping gas, because 
governments are not known for doing research before passing laws to prevent 
urban legands.)   

It doesn't help that lawyers tell the station they can avoid some liability 
with those signs.   Eventually the fire marshal will complete the 
investigation and say there is either a different cause, or no conclusive 
cause - but this will take longer than it takes other lawyers to bring the 
lack of cell phone warnings before a jury.

Static electricity is a REAL problem - if you are filling a plastic gas can 
(nearly all gas cans these days) in a truck with plastic bed liner it is very 
likely you will get a fire in the bed of the truck.  Gas cannot burn in the 
can (too many vapors), and cannot burn more than a few inches from the can, 
but right at the opening of the can there can be a concentration can can 
burn.  

Fill gas cans on the ground, it is easy enough, and it solves a lot of 
problems.