Your Car Can Protect You From Lightning, But Not For The Reasons You Think

Thunderstorms are scary and unpredictable weather phenomena, especially when it comes to startling rumbles and crackling lightning bolts. Even though experts have determined that staying indoors is the best way to stay safe during a lightning storm, sometimes storms unexpectedly develop while you're on the road. Fortunately, the metal frame of your vehicle can protect you.

It's a misconception that you're safe from a lightning strike while in your car because of its tires. That's because lightning strikes can be so powerful that they actually melt the rubber, which has been seen in bicycle and motorcycle deaths related to lightning. Instead, the metal frame of your vehicle is what keeps you safe. Typically, the bolt will strike either the antenna or roofline. Since the shell is a good conductor, though, the static electricity will be directed around the outer metal barrier, through the tires, and into the ground, avoiding you altogether.

There is one exception, however: convertibles with soft tops. These kinds of vehicles are less safe because lightning could strike the fabric and set the roof on fire. For this reason, it's best to keep shelter in a nearby building if you're caught on the road in a soft-top convertible during a thunderstorm.

While the metal frame of a vehicle can keep you safe in a thunderstorm with lightning, you still need to take a few precautions to protect yourself from lightning. The most ideal thing to do is seek shelter when you first see warning signs of a thunderstorm, such as the sky turning dark, an increase in wind (made obvious by tree movement), and, of course, rumbling and flashes of light.

If you're stuck in your car, though, you should pull onto the shoulder of the road, turn off the engine with the emergency flashers on and the windows up, and wait for the storm to pass. It's best to avoid touching anything that contains metal and is connected to the frame, including the door handles, electronics on the dashboard, gearshift, steering wheel, and windows. That way, you won't get shocked if your car is struck.

Keep in mind, too, that lightning striking the ground nearby could travel to your car through the rain on the ground. That's why, before touching anything metal or leaving the vehicle, you should wait for 30 minutes after the last time you hear a rumble of thunder. The other reason is because lightning bolts can touch down miles ahead of and behind a storm.

In the event that lightning strikes your car, you're likely to come out unscathed, but the same may not be true of the vehicle. The reason is because many of the components in your car are connected to the metal shell. As the static electric charge passes through the frame, it can pass through these other components. And, while there are many kinds of damage thunderstorms cause, there are specific types of damage you may find on your vehicle.

Visually, you may see burn marks on the paint, broken glass, or melted plastic at and near the lightning bolt's point of contact. The rear windows could even shatter if the electricity travels into the defrosting wires. You might also experience deployed airbags when the strike happens, which could potentially total the car. The intense heat from the electrical charge can melt your antenna and blow out and melt your tires as it travels into the ground. If the right components are affected, a fire could start.

A lightning strike can cause non-visual damage as well, unless you're an auto mechanic. Most often, it can fry computer chips and melt the electrical systems — including the stereo setup, important sensors, and safety equipment — which will prevent those systems and possibly the entire vehicle from working. In some cases, damage to the engine can render a car undrivable, requiring a tow truck. Even if you can still drive your car after a lightning strike, you should take it to a mechanic for a checkup if you notice anything operating differently.