See A Lightning Bolt Strike A Moving Car
Lightning strikes a car in this recently posted viral video.
Great Scott! Based on a viral video posted on January 29th 2023, someone may be trying to get back to the future Doc Brown style. In a video posted by Oddly Terrifying, a car is driving down the road when suddenly it is struck by lightning. The car slows to a stop and people come from all over the city to help the people inside as they climb out of the car, dazed but seemingly fine.
We’re not sure where (or honestly “if”) this phenomenon happened, because the poster didn’t include a location in the caption, and many comments are alleging that the video is fake. Further research also didn’t turn up a definitive source. It is highly possible, however, for a car to get struck by lightning and damaged in a way that looks much like what we witness in the video.
According to the National Weather Service, the outer metal shell of a car normally provides protection for everyone inside it because the car acts like a Faraday cage, a grounded metal screen that allows electricity to pass around it instead of going into it. In most cases of cloud-to-car lightning strikes, the electricity hits the antenna and passes along the metal exterior of the car and then to the ground without affecting the people inside.
However, that’s not to say that lightning can’t hurt a car. Common outcomes of a car getting struck by lightning include damage to the electrical system of the car, the antenna, the tires, or even the rear windshield. Sometimes, the people inside the car may see a small burst of sparks when the lightning strikes the metal, which can burn and melt it.
If the discharge from the lightning strike makes it to the internal electrical system of the car, said electrical system could be fried. This can render the car undrivable, especially these days when most cars are largely dependent on electrical components.
The tires, while rubber, may still be destroyed or heavily damaged as the lightning passes through and touches the steel rims on its way to the ground. Damage to the rear windshield may occur because the lighting can enter the defrosting wires embedded in it and shatter the glass around them.
It is also possible for a lightning strike to start a fire within or on the vehicle, which could then lead to other damage or even complete destruction of the car.
So, what should you do if you’re driving down the road and your car is suddenly struck by lightning?
Assuming you weren’t using the car as a time machine in an attempt to get to the past or future, you should start by pulling over to the side of the road and putting on your hazard lights. According to Energized, a website created by the Edison electricity company, you should sit with your hands in your lap, touching nothing. That way, any part of the car that touches metal can’t shock you.
Keep all the doors and windows closed. Keep your eyes and ears out for signs of damage and/or fire. Then, wait around thirty minutes for everything to discharge and the lightning storm to pass before attempting to get out of the car, feeling extremely grateful that you lived to tell the tale!
