Can you get electrocuted in a car

Myth 3 — If you're stuck in a thunderstorm, being under a tree is better than no shelter at all. Myth 4 — If you don't see rain or clouds, you're safe. Myth 5 — A car's rubber tires will protect you from lightning Myth 6 — If you're outside in a storm, lie flat on the ground. Myth 7 — If you touch a lightning victim, you'll be electrocuted. Myth 8 — Wearing metal on your body attracts lightning. Myth 9 — A house will always keep you safe from lightning.

Myth 10 — Surge suppressors can protect a home against lightning. Myth 1 — Lightning never strikes twice in the same place. The Empire State Building was once used as a lightning laboratory because it is hit nearly 25 times per year, and has been known to have been hit up to a dozen times during a single storm. Fact: Lightning is indiscriminate and it can find you anywhere. Lightning may hit the ground instead of a tree, cars instead of nearby telephone poles, and parking lots instead of buildings.

Fact: Sheltering under a tree is just about the worst thing you can do. In fact, under normal conditions, a volt car battery will usually not even shock you. Car batteries are not harmless, though. There are many ways you can be injured by car batteries:. There are enough dangers present that it is a good idea to be cautious around car batteries and follow the maintenance instructions in the car's manual, even though electrocution by car battery is not going to happen.

Also, this question tacitly contains a common misconception about high voltage being independently dangerous. The ability of electricity to damage biological tissue is dependent on both current and voltage. A very high voltage source providing a very low current does not carry enough energy to harm you. For example, a tabletop Van de Graaff generator those charged metal balls you see at the science museum can generate voltages up to , volts.

And yet, children regularly enjoy shocks and hair-raising experiences from these generators without being harmed. In contrast, a high current even at relativity low voltage contains enough energy to hurt you.

Otherwise, that person can get electrocuted if he or she approaches your car or touches it. Q - Is it safe to touch your steering wheel if your car is electrified?

A - Some older cars, particularly vintage cars, have metal steering wheels, so those could become electrified, said Scott Surgeoner, a spokesman for First Energy Corp.

Sit in your seat. Remain calm. And call for help. A - Utility companies say if your life is in immediate danger and emergency workers have not yet arrived, you can try to open your door and jump out -- but only as a last resort and only if you follow these instructions. The idea is to exit the car without touching the car frame. Q - Can I walk away after that?

After you land on the ground, keep both feet together and slowly shuffle to a safe area, at least 30 feet away from the vehicle. As you shuffle, make sure you keep both feet firmly planted on the ground, as closely together as possible. Some utility companies say you can slowly hop away, keeping both feet together at all times, but the Electrical Safety Foundation International believes shuffling is a safer option than hopping.

Q - Why can't I just take regular steps to escape from my car? A - If you step outside your car one step at a time, you could get electrocuted, because the current will run from the live wire to the frame of your car, then travel through your body and down to the ground. Experts say the same thing will happen if you jump out, then try to walk away, because pockets of electricity may exist around your car.

Q - Can I climb onto the roof of my car and jump down from there? A - You should NOT do that, because you will likely come into contact with metal parts of your vehicle, so you would run the risk of getting electrocuted, Surgeoner said. Q - If my inside door handle is made of metal, will it be safe for me to open it if I have to escape? Q - How far around the car will the ground be electrified?

A - Usually the danger zone is up to 30 feet, but it could be even further, depending on the voltage of the wire that's on the car. Wires feeding residential houses carry much lower voltage than wires on transmission lines. Q - Where can I find more information about this topic?