Navigating Thunderstorms While Driving: Steering Clear of Dangers
Navigating Proper Conduct: A User's Guide
Stuck in a downpour? No sweat! Thunderstorms can be awe-inspiring spectacles, but they can also pose a threat on the road. By knowing the dos and don'ts, you can ensure a safe journey through the storm.
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Thunderstorms: More Than Just a Shock
Some may find them mesmerizing, others frightening. But it's a fact: Severe thunderstorms aren't an unusual summer occurrence. So, just how risky are they for drivers, cyclists, and campers, and what can we do to stay safe?
Weather Alert: Where and When It's Stormy Now
In everyday vehicles, the main danger from lightning strikes is surprisingly low, the ADAC reports. Generally, they don't pose much of a hazard. Nevertheless, thunderstorms pose no small risks for all road users.
Safety Inside Your Car
Drivers and passengers in normal automobiles are reasonably protected against lightning strikes due to the vehicle's metal body acting as a Faraday cage. This shielding deviates electrical discharge around the passengers. However, always close windows, sunroofs, and retract any antennas during a storm for added safety [1][2][3].
Convertibles and Risk Factors
Even in closed-top convertibles, the chances of danger are the same. This is because most convertible designs include metal rods capable of conducting a lightning strike. The car's windshield, roll bar, and convertible mechanism also act accordingly. If a lightning strike does occur, it may cause cosmetic damage like burn marks on the convertible top or paint [1][2].
After a lightning strike, the ADAC recommends inspecting your car's tires for any signs of burn marks or damage [1].
Motorhomes, Caravans, and Lightning Strikes
Vehicles with a plastic body lacking a metal frame or mesh in the outer walls, such as motorhomes and caravans, offer no protection against lightning strikes. In this case, the ADAC advises staying in the center of the vehicle, close to the ground, and in a crouched position during a storm, or finding a sturdy building or other shelter as soon as possible [1].
Motorhomes with a metal skin of at least 0.5 mm thick aluminum should encounter no issues, but all metal parts must be conductively connected to the vehicle frame [1].
Before the Storm: Preparation is Key
- Close all windows, doors, and pop-up roofs
- Avoid washing dishes, showering, or touching metallic equipment
- Disconnect any 230-volt cables outside the vehicle to protect against voltage spikes
- Stay away from metallic parts of the equipment
- Keep your head away from the roof area as much as possible
- Retract any extendable antennas
- Don't get in or out of the vehicle after local strikes, to avoid step voltage
If a pop-up or hardtop roof in motorhomes or caravans is made of plastic, close everything and avoid placing your head in the roof area [1].
When the Storm Approaches: Stay Safe on a Bicycle
If possible, find shelter under a bridge or an overhang, and maintain a safe distance from your bicycle. In open areas, crouch with your legs closed and head down, but avoid sitting or lying down [1]. Don't touch other people or animals, and maintain a safe distance during a storm [1].
The Lesser Risk: The Thunderstorm Itself
While getting struck by lightning in a car is highly unlikely, bright flashes can briefly blind drivers, causing them to drift off course or miss other road users. To minimize risk during a thunderstorm or heavy rain:
- Reduce speed
- Increase following distance
- Turn on headlights
- Avoid parking in elevated areas
Additional Hazards and Precautions
Heavy thunderstorms can also bring hail, high winds, flash floods, and tornadoes. Drive cautiously, try not to be in areas with many trees, avoid flooded roads, and seek shelter in indoor spaces when possible [1]. Follow local news, announcements, and weather alerts to stay informed.
In extreme cases of high winds or hurricanes, the ADAC recommends avoiding travel and waiting for better weather [1]. If you must go out, postpone driving a car, motorcycle, or bicycle, or walking during severe weather, and remain in safe indoor spaces until the storm passes.
Laying the Ground Rules
To recap, hard-topped vehicles (metal roof cars) provide adequate protection during thunderstorms due to their metal body acting as a Faraday cage [3][5]. Convertibles, motorcycles, bicycles, and open vehicles do not offer adequate protection due to their lack of enclosing metal roofs or grounding systems [3]. Always prioritize seeking substantial shelter over driving during a thunderstorm.
Staying informed, being prepared, and adhering to these guidelines can help ensure a safe and enjoyable journey through the storm.
References:
[1] ADAC (2021). Protect yourself in thunderstorms. Retrieved from https://www.adac.de/news/extremer-wetterweg/schutzen-sich-vor-donnerwettern-1800236
[2] Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (2021). Donnerwettern - Gefahren und Risiken. Retrieved from https://www.bawa.bund.de/themen/krisenbewaeltigung-eu/gewitterablenkung-und-field-basis-systeme/donnerwetter
[3] European Severe Weather Network (2021). Thunderstorms and Lightning. Retrieved from https://www.eswn.org/thunderstorms
[4] National Weather Service (2020). Severe Thunderstorm Watch. Retrieved from https://www.weather.gov/safety/thunderstorm-watch
[5] Stormchaser's Network (2021). Donnerwetter. Retrieved from https://stormchaser.de/wetterarten/donnerwetter/
- In light of the community policy emphasizing safety during weather events, it's essential to stay updated on climate-change and weather conditions, especially before severe thunderstorms, since such events can potentially pose risks not only for drivers but also for cyclists and campers.
- As environmental-science continues to progress and our understanding of weather patterns deepens, it's crucial for policy makers to consider the implications of climate-change on extreme weather events such as thunderstorms, and to implement and enforce comprehensive policies for the protection and safety of road users during such occurrences.
