As of this writing, a motorcycle rider lies comatose in a hospital after accidentally colliding with a street pole in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan.

A traffic enforcer discovered the rider unconscious, and beside him was a seemingly burnt mobile phone. Traffic enforcer Sharwen Ching-Tai surmised that the phone might have combusted while it was in the rider’s pocket, which then caused him to lose concentration on the road.  

Electrical engineer Norman Oblanca shares that Ching-Tai’s theory is entirely plausible. While riding on a hot day, sweat from the rider could have seeped into the phone’s battery which could have shorted it and caused it to explode.

He added that sweat is potentially more hazardous than rainwater when it comes into contact with electronic devices because it is a better conductor of current due to its salt content.

City Traffic Management Director Bobby Esquivel reminds the riding public to avoid putting their phone in their pockets when riding in hot weather and suggests that they use a belt bag instead.

Please remember that it's important not to store electronic gadgets in the under-seat compartment. It is generally not recommended to prevent them from being exposed to engine-generated heat.

If a fanny pack isn’t your thing, the other options might be the front compartment with a cover (some bike models have them) or having a top box installed. Of course, you want to ensure your phone is not tossed around inside while you ride.  

Where do you store your phone when riding your bike?