Safety and your vehicle
You notice a strong smell of petrol while driving. What is the safest thing to do?
- Stop safely, switch off, and have the fuel system checked, as there is a fire riskCorrect
- Light a match to check where the smell is coming from
- Ignore it, as fuel smells are always harmless
- Drive faster so the smell blows away
Why?
A strong petrol smell can mean a fuel leak, which is a serious fire hazard. Annex 6 of The Highway Code says your vehicle must be kept roadworthy, so stop safely, switch off the engine, keep any flames or cigarettes away, and have the fuel system checked.
Highway Code rule Annex 6