not a dumb question, considering modern tanks are where you can't see them so don't think about them .... some of the car tanks are right under the back seat
some folks worry about the tank inside in an accident, but it's likely the safest place unless you have such a bad one you'd be dead before any gas caught fire .... and there's not much risk of it exploding unless you click a spark into the open filler, just make sure the rubber joints on the fill neck are sound and tight so there's no fumes inside .... I've been driving these ol trucks for decades without problems and haven't seen any reports they're more of a fire hazard than any other vehicle
Bill
