Getting zapped by vehicle??

I touch the metal bodywork (painted) before putting my foot on the ground.

Hi. Yes they do work,not sure where you would buy one though.
Ray

Can someone PLEASE explain why a non-conducting rubber strap would have any effect when there's already 4 non-conducting tyres on the ground.

In the old days (here we go again, yawn etc ) there were conducting rods set into the road as you approached the sydney harbour bridge. These discharged a vehicles static charge instead of the poor toll collectors getting zapped.
The trailing straps used to have metal chains impregnated in them, no doubt a better conducting medium is now used.
AFAIK they were also used to combat car sickness .

Ive always assumed they had something conductive through them much like a spark plug lead??????
Dunno
Cheers

some info here,

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There is a more serious aspect to this too: although it hasn't been conclusively proven, in the USA, there have been a number of instances of fires occurring during petrol refilling of cars. It looks more than possible that these may have been caused by a static discharge. The situation seems to have worsened in recent years and may be due to the remote unlocking of fuel tank filler covers and the use of plastic tank caps these two factors mean that a person/vehicle/earth may not be at the same electrical potential and with petrol vapour floating about only the smallest spark is needed.

My practice, after open the fuel tank flap remotely, and before touching the fuel tank cap is to place the full flat of my hand on the vehicle paintwork, remove the plastic cap and then touch the metal of the pump - sounds more complicated than it is - this ensures all static is discharged.

As I said: there is no proven link but it's a simple process to avoid the risk altogether.

Mike Harding

Dont have static on my 100series ,but wifes car seems to accumulate it. Dont know if straps work, but available on eBay i see for about $5,and $4 postage! Regards Kirsten (NSW)

It's all a combination of car seat material, clothing material and well-insulated shoes (non-leather soles). The materials generating the static electricity are an insulator, which also has capacitance. As one slides across the seat, static electricity is generated between oneself and the vehicle. Then as one slides off the seat and exits, the capacitance between one's body and the vehicle is significantly reduced.
Using the electrical formula Q=C*E, where
Q is the charge generated
C is the capacitance
E is the voltage,
it follows that as one draws one's self away from the vehicle, the capacitance drops, and therefore the voltage goes up to blazes, hence the zap.
As other members have said, grab something metal as you exit the car. This stops the voltage increasing and provides a discharge path for the generated charge. I usually grab the window ledge as I get out. Even an insulated metal object, such as the window ledge will provide sufficient protection, as the thin paint has quite a high level of capacitance compared with that of one's body relative to the vehicle, preventing the voltage from increasing any significant amount.
cheers
Dr Gerry

Signman
I get it too, was thinking about connecting myself to the starter and see if I had enough to fire the old girl up, I find if you keep your hand on the door until feet have made touch-down your ok , and those rubber strips ?????rubber is not a conductor, OK any of you oldies out there remember the Fuel Tankers with a chain touching the road......to make sparks. At least a chain will get rid of any charge

Doug