Experts recommend observing the 30-30 rule when lightening approaches. When you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If it takes 30 seconds or less, the thunderstorm is less than six miles away and that puts you within striking distance. Get to a safe place indoors immediately. Even after it seems that a thunderstorm has passed, wait 30 minutes from the last roar of thunder you hear before going outdoors.

On 24 August 2003, a 59 year old male motorcyclist was traveling eastbound on Colorado highway 24. At approximately 4:45 pm MDT, 1.5 miles southeast of Lake George, Colorado, he was struck and fatally wounded by a lightning flash. After being struck, the bike and rider crossed into the west bound lane and crashed into an embankment on the north side of the highway. A witness who was immediately behind the cyclist in an automobile did not observe any deviant motion of the cycle after the rider was hit. The witness stated; "The bike gradually turned to the left (crossing into the west bound lane) and crashed into the embankment". The witness also stated rain was falling at the time of the flash, and lightning was visible prior to the flash which struck the cyclist. Although the cyclist was still alive when emergency authorities arrived, he succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital. According to the coroner, the cause of death was due to the lightning flash, and not the ensuing crash.

This case shows that motorcyclists can be hit by lightning while riding on a motorcycle. It is recommended that motorcyclists should be aware of their environment (Is lightning occurring nearby??) and to seek safe shelter if lightning is observed.

The reason why an enclosed metal vehicle is safe to be in when struck by lightning is the fact that its' exterior is made of metal. When lightning makes contact with the metal surface, the electrical current travels across the exterior metal skin of the vehicle and then down into the ground.

This explains why convertibles or any vehicle which does not have a metal top (such as golf carts or motorcycles) is dangerous to be in when struck by lightning. If lightning strikes a convertible, the electric current from the flash could easily travel into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

Do the tires protect the car or me in any way? The tires on a vehicle have nothing to do with why a vehicle is a safe place to be during lightning activity. You could be in a vehicle which has no tires on it and you would be just as safe. Rubber tires also do not "protect" the car from being hit by lightning. Remember, lightning travels an average of 7 miles from the cloud to the surface of the earth. A half inch or so of rubber compound will not stop a lightning flash.

It is interesting to note that vehicles struck by lightning may have their tires damaged by the lightning flash. Some of the tires may be flat by the next day as the lightning flash produces small tiny holes into the tires. Of course, the vehicles electronics may also be severely damaged by the lightning flash. There has also been a case where a vehicles' windshield was broken by a lightning flash, but the occupant was not injured.

This page discusses vehicles which are not safe to be in during lightning activity. Vehicles which are not safe include any vehicle which is not surrounded by metal or glass. Examples include golf carts, open cab machinery, riding tractors, motorcycles and convertibles (or any vehicle which has a soft top). Some vehicles available on the market today have their exteriors made of plastic. It is not known how safe these vehicles are if they are struck by lightning.

Quick overview:

Here are specific recommendations for Motorcyclists and a safe location is NOT nearby:

1.) Know the weather forecast for that day. If there is a high chance of thunderstorm activity, you may want to curtail your riding activities on this day.

B) If you can turn around and get away from the storm, then do it!

C) DO NOT ride into a lighting storm! Do not ride near a thunderstorm!

a.) If an overpass is available, seek shelter under the overpass. DO NOT go near steel girders. Move away from your bike. Remain on the dry surfaces if possible. Overpasses are engineered structures and are likely to be properly grounded. Although an overpass is likely to be higher than the surrounding landscape, if it is struck by lightning, the electrical current will likely be channeled safely into the earth’s surface.

b.) Look for a bridge over a stream, culvert, railroad crossing or any other type of bridge. Stay away from water, Stay away from any metal surfaces (However, be alert for rapidly rising water if under a bridge which crosses a stream).

c.) High tension wires: If high voltage electrical tension wires cross the road, you may want to seek shelter directly underneath these wires. Do not get too close to the large metal towers which hold up these wires (stay away at least 50 feet). Electric companies design these high tension wires for lightning strikes. If lighting should strike the wires or towers, the current is designed to safely go deep into the ground.

3.) If you find yourself caught completely in the open and lightning is occurring within 5 miles of your location, it is strongly suggested that the best thing for you to do is STOP riding, get off of your motorcycle, find the lowest area possible (small ditch/culvert, etc), and get into the Lightning Desperation Position

a.) Motorcyclist should move at least 50 feet away from their bike.

b.) DO NOT CONTINUE TO RIDE if lightning is occurring! Once lightning is within 5 miles of your location, it is suggested you should stop your ride. Motorcyclists have been struck and killed by lightning while riding in lightning storms.

If you are caught in the open and lightning is nearby, the safest position to be in is crouched down on the balls of your feet. Keep your hands over your ears and do not allow other parts of your body to touch the ground. Keep your feet as close to one another as possible. Why is it important to crouch down on the balls of your feet? The reason why is that when lightning strikes an object, the electricity of the lightning discharge does not necessarily go straight down into the ground (Figure 2). Quite often the electricity will travel along the surface of the ground for quite a large distance. The electrical current likely varies widely from place to place, even over a small area. This phenomenon is known as a "side flash". Many people who are "struck" by lightning are not hit directly by the main lightning channel, but are affected by electrical current of the side flash as it travels along the surface of the ground. By keeping the surface area of your body relative to the ground to a minimum (that is, keep your feet together and do not allow any other part of your body to contact the ground, you can reduce the threat of the electricity traveling across the ground from crossing your body and injuring you.

A more technical description of this phenomenon is called ground potential. If a flash occurs nearby and your feet are separated AND the electrical current is different between your two feet, then the electrical current will try to equalize across your feet. What this mean is the electric current will travel through your body to equalize between your two feet (it will do this by traveling up one leg, across your lower abdomen, and then down the other leg). The greater your feet are from each other the greater the ground potential could be (even a few extra inches can make a big difference). If your feet are together, then the ground potential between your two feet will likely be less, and the current will likely not travel as much through your body. This safety measure only helps for a lightning flash that strikes nearby, and not a flash that directly hits you - IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE IN THIS POSITION AND THE LIGHTNING STRIKES YOU DIRECTLY, THEN THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT YOU WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. It is good to know, however, that there has never been a documented case of somebody being injured or killed while in the lightning desperation position.

To estimate the distance between you and a lightning flash, use the "Flash to Bang" method: If you observe lightning, count the number of seconds until you hear thunder. Divide the number of seconds by five (5) to get the distance (in miles) the lightning is away from you.

It is recommended that you should be in a safe location if the time between the lightning flash and the rumble of thunder is 30 seconds or less.