What happens when lightning strikes your car?

Rubber tires aren’t why you’re safe in a car during a lightning storm. In strong electric fields, rubber tires actually become more conductive than insulating. You’re safe in a car because the lightning will travel around the surface of the vehicle and then go to ground. This occurs because the vehicle acts like a Faraday cage. Michael Faraday, a British physicist, discovered that a metal cage would shield objects within the cage when a high potential discharge hit the cage. The metal, being a good conductor, would direct the current around the objects and discharge it safely to the ground. This process of shielding is widely used today to protect the electrostatic sensitive integrated circuits in the electronics world.

But, consistent with lightning’s capricious nature, situations alter results. Is the car dry or wet? If the car is made of fiberglass (a poor conductor) or a convertible, the Faraday principles may not work. (Convertibles may look flashy and all but it’s totally impractical in Malaysia!)

While the chances of being killed by a lightning strike is very low, you can take some precautions such as:

• Avoid touching any metal parts of your car.
• Wind up all your windows.
• Pull over in a safe area, turn off your engine and put your hands on your lap.

Do take note that a road accident is more likely to kill you than a lightning strike, but it’s good to know what to do in case of a severe lightning storm. Stay safe on the roads!