Author:
Mark Sanchez
Date Of Creation:
2 January 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Do you get ridiculed every time you get out of your car? There are simple rules for preventing static electric shock.
Steps
1 Know what kind of clothes you are wearing. Synthetic materials, like most modern lambswool clothing, increase the risk of "static shock". 
2 Shoes are important. For example, beach shoes with salt water soles will more or less guarantee you an electrostatic shock. 
3 When you get out of the car, grasp the metal door frame for a couple of seconds before lowering your feet to the ground. The electrostatic charge will be balanced while you are sitting in the car seat, and the static charge accumulated by your clothes will not have a conductor to the charge with the opposite potential. By grasping the car body with your hand, you allow the discharge to flow more slowly. That's all you need to know to understand how it works. 
4 Open the door and, while sitting in the seat, place your hand on the (outside) roof of the car before getting in / out of it.
Tips
- Here's a simple method: when leaving, close the door with your fist. The fist is much less sensitive than the palm, and you will not feel the impact of the shock as much.
- Keeping the key in hand, touch it to the metal door frame as you exit. It will act as a lightning rod and discharge static electricity painlessly.
- Use an anti-static clothing spray on the car floor and seats.
- Press down on the door with your forearm or elbow. You will feel the effect of the discharge, but it will be much less painful.
- In most states, this practice is prohibited by law. If static electricity is a real problem for you, attach a small chain to the vehicle frame so that it touches the ground slightly. This will equalize the potentials of the vehicle and ground, and you will not be exposed to static electricity. However, the chain hitting the ground can throw off sparks while riding, so care should be taken when choosing an attachment point.
Warnings
- This is actually helpful safety advice. If static electricity is not discharged, it can ignite the fuel when refueling. Never start the vehicle while refueling, as this can generate more static electricity. If you need to refuel before driving to the nearest fuel dispenser, follow these instructions and get rid of static electricity!
