Ever Wonder Why Your Fuel Door Is on the “Wrong” Side? The Reason Might Surprise You!

Safety is another critical factor that has influenced the design and placement of fuel doors. Historically, some automakers opted to place fuel doors on the passenger side, believing this would reduce the risk of fire in the event of a collision on the driver’s side. However, subsequent studies, including research conducted by Ford, revealed no significant safety advantages between driver-side and passenger-side placements. In areas like Germany, where high-speed autobahns lack left-side shoulders, passenger-side fuel doors remain preferred to ensure safer refueling away from fast-moving vehicles.

Improving Gas Station Efficiency

If you’ve ever noticed how gas stations seem to handle traffic seamlessly, even during peak hours, it largely has to do with the variability in fuel door placements. Economist Robert Frank suggests that having fuel doors on both sides of vehicles helps reduce congestion at gas stations. If every car had its fuel door on the same side, one side of the station would be overwhelmed while the other remained idle. By distributing fuel doors across both sides, gas stations can better balance traffic flow, thus minimizing wait times for drivers.