Open Letter to the Woman Lighting Up While Pumping Gas
Ma'am,
I just missed an important and teachable moment, because I was too chicken to approach you, but let me throw my thoughts into the ether, on the chance that someone, somewhere might run across this and think.
While filling my gas tank here in Decatur, GA, I just watched you light and begin smoking your cigar, while filling your own tank, with a child (presumably yours, but at the very least in your care) in your car. I watched the whole event with shock and no small amount of fear, as I and my own son were not entirely out of harm's way, should that very reckless behavior have caused the worst case scenario. There was a narrow window, where you had completed the pumping and capped the tank, but before you got into your car, when I should have approached you, but found myself too socially inept and cowardly to do so.
Here is a quick primer, since you may not realize why it is illegal to smoke while pumping gas. It is not necessary for the flame to contact the actual, liquid gasoline that you are pumping. Gasoline, like most liquids, is constantly evaporating, producing a vapor. (Think of it like water evaporating.) Gasoline vapor is actually far more volatile and dangerous than the liquid form. By this I mean it is highly flammable. It is also heavier than air, which means it does not quickly disperse and float away, but can linger in the area for some time after it spills out into the environment. Although cars don't actually explode like the cars on TV, it is entirely possible for a large and rapidly spreading fire to break out in the area where gas is being pumped, if it come into contact with an open flame. A fire at the gas station, started by your cigar, or the match that you stuck to light it, could easily have consumed yourself, your car, and the child within, in a matter of seconds.
Although I am also personally disturbed by the thought of your smoking in the car with the child, which can cause harm, that does not, at the very least, pose an immediate threat of horrible injury or death to yourself, the child, and even unrelated bystanders. Since you were smoking in the car anyway, I would hope that in the future, you could at least wait until you are finished pumping gas and are "safely" back in the car, before lighting up.
Sincerely,
Your Fellow Citizen
I just missed an important and teachable moment, because I was too chicken to approach you, but let me throw my thoughts into the ether, on the chance that someone, somewhere might run across this and think.
While filling my gas tank here in Decatur, GA, I just watched you light and begin smoking your cigar, while filling your own tank, with a child (presumably yours, but at the very least in your care) in your car. I watched the whole event with shock and no small amount of fear, as I and my own son were not entirely out of harm's way, should that very reckless behavior have caused the worst case scenario. There was a narrow window, where you had completed the pumping and capped the tank, but before you got into your car, when I should have approached you, but found myself too socially inept and cowardly to do so.
Here is a quick primer, since you may not realize why it is illegal to smoke while pumping gas. It is not necessary for the flame to contact the actual, liquid gasoline that you are pumping. Gasoline, like most liquids, is constantly evaporating, producing a vapor. (Think of it like water evaporating.) Gasoline vapor is actually far more volatile and dangerous than the liquid form. By this I mean it is highly flammable. It is also heavier than air, which means it does not quickly disperse and float away, but can linger in the area for some time after it spills out into the environment. Although cars don't actually explode like the cars on TV, it is entirely possible for a large and rapidly spreading fire to break out in the area where gas is being pumped, if it come into contact with an open flame. A fire at the gas station, started by your cigar, or the match that you stuck to light it, could easily have consumed yourself, your car, and the child within, in a matter of seconds.
Although I am also personally disturbed by the thought of your smoking in the car with the child, which can cause harm, that does not, at the very least, pose an immediate threat of horrible injury or death to yourself, the child, and even unrelated bystanders. Since you were smoking in the car anyway, I would hope that in the future, you could at least wait until you are finished pumping gas and are "safely" back in the car, before lighting up.
Sincerely,
Your Fellow Citizen
posted by wRONgainey at 5:40 PM
0 comments
