> > > I get that all the time too. That's static that has built up on the car body while you've been driving it. The friction of air passing the car body creates static just the same as rubbing a balloon on a sweater does. With rubber tyres it's got nowhere to earth itself to until you get out and touch it.
> >
> > Wow! I didn't realize there would be an actual, logical explanation. Now to find a way to make something ELSE do the grounding. Maybe if I hit a dog every time I park...
>
> Is this the purpose of the little dangly straps which some people have dangling from the back of their car? I believe those are anti-static devices, but since I don't have this problem myself, I have never looked into whether they work or are merely a gimmick. Does anybody here have one?

Not the ones that I've seen, although there's nothing to stop you from doing that.

The ones we have here are actually tyre tread wear indicators. They are just bits of rubber that dangle behind the rear tyres and scrape on the road. Why people can't just look at the tyres themselves is beyond me.

Bea"Cheaper too, you don't have to buy a new one each time you replace the tyres"sty