The absolute worst thing to do when lightning strikes your car is to get out. You'll most likely electrocute yourself on the door or the handle.
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· 9 years ago
Most door handles are plastic... especially in the inside which is what you touch to get out. The electricity doesnt stay buzzing through your car. By the time you hear it hit its gone.
Inside handles on a lot of cars are metal, and so is most of the car. I've gone through training on this kind of thing, and the safest thing to do is stay in your car, not touch the sides, and call the police or fire department who has tools that can get you out safely.
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· 9 years ago
Thats with powerlines not a lightning. Older cars may have metal handles but show me a car newer than a 1995 with metal handles inside. Just because its a chrome handle doesnt mean its metal. Mine is chrome but plastic
Chromium on plastic isnt a metal handle. My whole point is after the lighting strikes its ok to get out of the car yourself only thing you risk is maybe getting hit with a different bolt of lighting but the strike that hit the car isnt going to hurt you after the strike
And static shock isn't too powerful when the energy is spread all throughout the entire mass of the car.
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· 9 years ago
Yeah im not too sure what kind of training biscuit has been through but you do not need a fireman or police officer with special tools to get out of a car thats been struck by lightning. But you should call them if you are in a car that has downed power lines on it.
i know that you shouldn't get out of a car when there is a downed power line on it because as soon as you get out and put your foot on the ground your body acts as a conduit and starts grounding electricity since the rubber tires act as insulation so your fine as long as you're in the car but I've never heard of staying inside after it is struck by lighting. a car can't hold a charge. once its hit the car the energy dissipates. After a little research i found out that the national lightning safety institute actually recommends that you get out of the car and find safe shelter since staying inside a big mass of metal probably isn't the safest place to stay in during a lightening storm.
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