What was the purpose of those thin rubber strips that used to hang from back of cars and touch the ground?

Question

I thought they might be for car sickness?

Answer 1

They reduce static buildup on the frame of the car. How that would help with carsickness is anyone's guess, but they DO keep the car from exploding when you fill the gas tank. The static buildup on the car can transfer to the metal gas pump, or to the pump operator, during a refill, igniting the volatile fumes which escape from the mouth of the tank.

This is less a problem today with vapor capture techniques used at gas stations and with self-serve where the driver is likely to discharge on the door before touching the pump. But the problem has been reborn in the form of cell phones. Ringing cell phones can generate enough of a spark to ignite the fumes, which is why most states require you to leave you cell phone in the car when filling your tank.

Answer 2

Dansing got it!

Won't help if you are sliding your butt around on velour seats in the dead of winter and hop out of the car to shut off the gas though.....

PS- BOSCH........ Tires don't insulate a car!! You think electricity that has traveled thousands of feet throught the air is going to avoid jumping from a steel rim through a few inches of air to the ground?? Cars only conduct lightning around you because you are in a steel shell. Sheesh!!

Answer 3

Earthing the car to reduce static & so stopping electric shocks when touching the car. Known as grounding straps.

Answer 4

It is said that Static Electricity build up in the car causes nausea. (Car sickness).
The strip is supposedly there to discharge the static and prevent nausea.

Answer 5

They were supposed to discharge static electricity from plastic seat covers.

BTW Those were abandoned a decade or two before gas pumps had vapor capture systems so I don't think that is why they are no longer used. It is more likely due to the change in seat covering materials.

Answer 6

They were supposed to ground static electricity to supposedly combat car sickness

Answer 7

it incredibly is a Static strap it extremely is meant to end automobile disease Used international yet yet to have concussive information that they artwork Petrol isn't a significant conductor of static electrical energy the way Jet gas is so uncertain regarding the advice above

Answer 8

They were to cancel out static electricity built up inside the car ,stati electric could couse you to feel nousieus

Answer 9

I always thought they were to reduce static in the vehicle and therefore reduce car sickness, like you say, but nobody could ever confirm this when I was a kid.

Answer 10

I confer with the above - reduce static and therefore reduce car sickness. Again though, it was just hearsay!