Do Cars Have Lightning Protection Devices?
2 Answers
Cars do not have lightning protection devices. Here are the details regarding lightning protection for cars: Reasons: The tires of a car have excellent insulation properties. If lightning strikes the car, the current cannot form a circuit to the ground, thus posing no harm to people or the vehicle. The tires may contain water or other conductive materials, but the car's body is made of metal while the tires are made of rubber, insulating it from the ground. Precautions: During thunderstorms, avoid leaving the vehicle. The vehicle acts as a relatively enclosed space with a metal body but insulated tires, making the entire vehicle an insulator. Additionally, it is important to close all windows and turn off the radio, as well as reduce speed while driving.
As an experienced driver who has been behind the wheel for many years, I must say that cars indeed don't have specialized lightning rods or any fancy devices like that. Think about it—car designs primarily focus on daily collisions and functionality, while lightning strikes are extremely rare occurrences. However, the metal parts of the car body act like a metal box. If struck by lightning, the current would travel along the outer shell without harming the people inside. This is called the Faraday cage effect. I've encountered thunderstorms in the southern regions, and when parked in an open area, the car actually felt much safer than being outside. But this isn't 100% foolproof—tires aren't fully insulated, and a lightning strike could cause a fire or damage the electronic systems. So, during thunderstorms, I always advise rolling up the windows, retracting the antenna, parking in a low-lying area, and waiting it out rather than risking a drive. Regularly checking tires and chassis grounding can also reduce risks. This kind of protection is more of a physical coincidence rather than a deliberately designed lightning protection system.