Can You Get Struck by Lightning in a Car?
2 Answers
You cannot get struck by lightning in a car. Here are the reasons why: 1. Tires are made of rubber, which is an insulator. Lightning is a form of electric current, and for the current to conduct, both sides must be conductors. Although a car has a large metal shell, the presence of tires makes the car itself an insulator, so lightning will not target the car. Of course, if the tires are submerged in water and become conductors, that's a different story. 2. Even if lightning strikes the car body, the current will only flow along the outer surface, damaging the exterior. The people inside the car, the seats they sit on, and the steering wheel they hold are all wrapped in insulating materials, preventing conduction. Therefore, even if the car is struck by lightning, the occupants inside will remain unharmed.
Driving in the rain is scary when there's thunder and lightning. I've looked it up, and it turns out hiding in your car is actually safer! The metal body acts like a Faraday cage, directing the current to the ground. But be careful: roof antennas, convertibles, or old canvas-top cars can increase the risk. During a thunderstorm, it's best to pull over, close the windows, avoid touching metal parts, and turn off the radio for extra safety. I heard about someone whose car got struck by lightning—while they were unharmed, all the electronics got fried, and the repair costs were steep.
