What happens when lightning strikes a vehicle? The answer, gleaned from anecdotal observations, is all the way from "Nothing" to "Wow! Most lightning incidents to cars result in one or more flat tires and damage to the electrical system, but no injury to the occupants. 1 shows that lightning chewed through the top of the pole to get to the STL dish and transmission line. Most often you see these little pinholes of damage near the roof and near the bottom of the car. In a vivid reminder of just how powerful Mother Nature can be, a News 5 viewer sent us this video of lightning striking a car on I-90. The heat from a lightning strike is sufficient to partially melt the antenna of a vehicle and can cause what seems like a small explosion of sparks as tiny fragments of metal melt and burn. If lightning does hit your car, it's a good idea to stop and check the vehicle. “The car took a direct hit; it must have had an enormity of electricity. 1: Lightning struck the pole, cutting a deep gouge. Nothing really happens to the person in a car when the vehicle gets struck by lightning as long as they remain in the car. The vehicle’s engine continued to run but when the bolt hit it knocked out … What Happens When a Car is Struck By Lightning? Older cars tend to fare better in lightning strikes because their electrical systems are much simpler and therefore more rugged. I had my foot on the brake and was waiting at a red light when my car was struck by lightning. A direct strike to your car will flow through the frame of the vehicle and usually jump over or through the tires to reach ground. . Once struck, the people inside will remain safe. Meaning that such a device as the one you suggest will encourage lightning to hit your car, increasing the probability to get hit significantly. Last night my car took a direct hit from lightning. On this one, everything was fried,” said Davis. What a mess . The lightning hit the left rear corner of the luggage rack on the roof of the car, effectively welding the metal latch that allowed the rear cross member to be adjusted fore and aft. my car is a disaster." Fig. When I was struck my car shut off and brake pedal became stiff and wouldn't move at all. When lightning strikes a car, the electricity from the lightning gets discharged by the car's body not the tires. More often, the lightning hits the car body and you get fairly little damage, at least to the body of the car. Fig. When a car gets struck by lightning, you will see a bright flash and sparks. Electrically speaking, at lightning's higher frequencies, currents are carried mostly on the outside of conducting objects. 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