Never touch this thing in your car during a storm, say experts
This common behavior could endanger you seriously and tell meteorological experts.
There are few more fun things than driving on the windows and leave in the hot air and the smell of freshly cut grass on a long summer reader. However, the hot weather also means an increased risk of storms and more dangerous driving conditions. It's not just the risk of obvious water during thunderstorms that can endanger you. The experts say that even touching this part of your car during a storm could be deadly. Read it to know how to keep you safe on the road this summer.
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During a storm, never touch the handle of your car door.
Although it may seem like if you are protected during a storm as long as you stay inside your vehicle, touch your car's door handle during a storm can put you at risk ofElectrocution of a flash shot, according to the National Institute of Lightning Security.
Although many people believe that the rubber tires of their car will protect against the dangers of lightning,Richard Kithil, President of the National Lightning Security Institute (NLSI), explained at AccuWeather.com (Via LiveScience)not the case. Instead, it is the metal frame of the car that helps to divert the electricity from the driver, according to Kithil.
Some vehicles offer little protection against lighting strikes.
Although driving in a closed metal car with the windows lit during a storm can be relatively safe, all vehicles do not offer equal protection against lightning strikes.
According to disease control and prevention centers (CDC), unclocked vehicles such as convertibles, motorcycles and golf trolleysNo protection against lightning. Similarly, the NLSI reports that fiberglass vehicles can not be effective to protect yourself from lightning due to "skin effect", which may occur in metal vehicles, during which the outer metal shell. "will beWear the biggest part of lightning On external surfaces, "NLSI states.
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If you are in your car in a storm, keep your hands on your knees.
While the handle of your car's door can present one of the most important risks inside a vehicle during a storm, it is not the only part of the car to avoid touching.
The NLSI also plans to touch the mechanism of the window of your car, the steering wheel and the gear offset of your car during a storm, as well as keep your windows closed during the duration of the storm. To protect yourself better yourself, the NLSI recommends keeping your hands on your knees to avoid accidentally touching an electrified surface.
The dangers of lightning can persist once the storm is over.
Even if you do not see lightning anymore or hear thunder, you might always be atRisk of lightning strike, National Meteorological Services (NWS) reports. The meteorological authority explains that Lightning can hit up to 12 miles of a storm. "If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to a storm to be in danger of being struck by lightning," says the NWS.
In order to calculate about how much a storm is on your part, the NWS recommends counting the number of seconds between the thunder chaps. Every five seconds you can count between Thunderclaps suggests the approximate distance of a mile between you and a storm. However, as a precaution, the NWS recommends staying inside for at least 30 minutes after hearing the last thunder.
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