The Scary Reason You Should Never Let Your Gas Tank Hit Empty

My gas tank was on empty and I knew that I was driving on fumes.  But...I was so close to a gas station.

 

I thought that I'd make it.

 

If I went a little faster and hit every green light, I'd be fine.

As my car started to make those horrific gurgle noises and started to sputter, I panicked.

 

I could see the gas station but was on a fairly busy road.  I didn't want to stall in traffic so I turned onto the first road that I could.  I quickly realized that was a horrible mistake.

 

I turned on a one-way street and I was going the wrong way.  And now my car was completely dead - facing traffic coming at me.

1 in 5 drivers in the United States have experienced the unfortunate demise of our vehicle running out of gas.  I am now part of that statistic.

How low do you let your gas tank get?  I'll let you know the average level below...and also, who is more likely to run out of gas - the men or the women.  I'll fill you in on the danger that is lurking for those of us who love to tease that "E".

When Do Most People Fill Up Their Gas Tank?

Based on data from AAA, 74% of drivers have indicated that they make a decision when to fill up based on their "miles-to-empty" display.  However, here are the common behaviors people have when it comings to filling up:

• 1/4 tank = the majority of people use this line as their guide to fill up the tank
• Low-fuel light = every car type is unique as to when this light will appear, however, it is usually between 30 to 50 miles left.
• Below that light = your are tempting fate.  Since about 11% of people feel anxiety when they feel like they are running lowl, most try to avoid the chance to run on fumes.

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Caution - Running Low On Gas Can Actually Damage Your Car

Fun fact that I learned today is this - driving your car when it is low on gas can damage your car.  Based on details provided by Drive-Safely.net, the fuel pump in your vehicle uses gasoline to stay cool.  When you make the decision to run your vehicle repeatedly on fumes, those can burn out.

Every time you run out of gas, a gum is created that can eventually cause interference with the fuel delivery. - Drive-Safely.net

Looking back at some of the car repairs we've had through the years, this makes sense.  I have officially learned my lesson.

Who Runs Out Of Gas The Most - Men or Women?

Out of the 20% of drivers in the United States who have completely run out of gas while on the road, men are cited as the top victims of the empty tank.