Most people think it’s a pretty good plan to stay inside your car during a thunderstorm.
That being said, sitting in a car during a lightning strike isn’t 100% safe either.
According to the Rapid Valley Volunteer Fire Department in Rapid City, there was an incident where a lightning strike to a pickup truck started a fire inside the cabin. Luckily the driver wasn’t injured.
Many people believe a car’s rubber tires will keep them safe from a lightning strike. That’s not entirely true. According to the Weather Channel, the majority of the current flows through the car’s metal frame. Not all cars are created equal. A convertible won’t offer the same protection that a Humvee will, and any electrical system like radios, GPS units, and even phone chargers are potential conductors. Even door handles, pedals, and steering wheels of some cars can carry the current into the cabin. The current is strong enough to shut down the engine of some cars and even deploy air bags.
See what happens to a car that’s struck by lighting while driving down the road in the video below.