Is it safe to drive in heavy rain with lightning?
Heavy rain and thunderstorms have caused several fatalities due to lightning strikes on motorcyclists. So, is it safe to drive a car in such extreme weather?
Northern Vietnam is entering the rainy season, and the heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning are causing concern for many, especially after recent fatalities in Thanh Hoa and Thai Binh provinces due to lightning strikes while motorcyclists were riding on the road.
According to data from the National Meteorological and Hydrological Network Center (National Meteorological and Hydrological Administration) in the Hanoi area, approximately 7,025 lightning strikes occurred this morning, June 5th.
Between 6 and 7 a.m., the monitoring agency recorded 3,513 lightning strikes, with 2,322 of them hitting the ground.
Between 7 and 8 a.m., there were 4060 lightning strikes, of which 2855 struck the ground.
Between 8 and 9 a.m., there were 2642 lightning strikes, of which 1848 struck the ground.
This is a time of high traffic density, with people pouring onto the streets to go to work in their motorbikes and cars.
Many people worry that sitting in a car during a thunderstorm is unsafe and could be life-threatening.
However, in reality, cars are considered one of the safest shelters for people during thunderstorms and lightning.
In June 2021, a family of five traveling in a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Waverly, Kansas, during a rainstorm was suddenly struck by a series of lightning bolts. The vehicle immediately lost power, but all passengers were unharmed.
According to automotive experts, the reason people inside cars are not struck by lightning is because the metal frame of the vehicle conducts electricity around the occupants, similar to the principle of Faraday's cage.
The operating principle of a Faraday cage is that if an electric current is discharged into the metal cage (which has a total electromagnetic field of zero), it will circulate around the cage due to its low resistance, preventing anyone or anything inside from being electrocuted. Because the structure of a car, consisting of a metal frame and body, acts like a metal cage, along with insulation, soundproofing, and seats, it creates a thick layer of protection against external electric fields. If lightning strikes, this current will circulate around the cage, and those inside will be virtually unharmed.
However, with convertible cars or sunroofs that don't close completely, the level of protection for occupants is reduced because this "Faraday cage" isn't entirely airtight.
However, to ensure the safety of those inside the vehicle, experts also offer some advice for people when traveling in stormy weather with rain, thunder, and lightning.
The first thing the driver should do is pull over to the side of the road, turn off the engine, and avoid touching any metal parts. Additionally, passengers should not open the windows or stick their hands out of the window; ideally, they should keep their hands on their laps. Furthermore, passengers are advised to turn off all electronic devices such as phones and tablets.
If driving is unavoidable, drivers should pay attention to driving at a low speed. This not only helps reduce wind resistance but also makes it easier for the driver to handle emergency situations. For example, if struck by lightning and the car's electrical system shuts down, it will be easier to handle the situation at a slow speed than when driving at high speed.
According to expert Nguyen Van Long, a former employee of the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting, the thunderstorm season in Vietnam lasts from April to September. "During the thunderstorm season, lightning strikes can occur anywhere, so not only large structures but even small houses and vehicles on the road are at risk of being struck by lightning. Therefore, people, especially motorcyclists, should limit going out during thunderstorms," Mr. Long said.