• Gasoline burns accidentally when fumes are released, as the stoichiometric mixture has to be pretty specific to combust.

      Gasoline in a gas tank does not achieve this mixture. That’s the entire job of the fuel pump and throttle in modern cars. As the other user said, there are lots of sparks and live electricity in a car crash, it’s just not easy to set gasoline on fire or make it explode.

      Diesel does not appear to achieve this vapor mixture readily at standard temp and pressure, like gasoline does, and therefore is technically safer in this specific regard.

      • Gasoline doesn’t burn that easily, either. Cars with gas tanks don’t burst into flames while sitting powered off in a garage

        Diesel combusts at 140 degrees. A care could reach those temps in a car accident as well if we’re making that argument.