For some who purchase sprinter vans, one of the primary purposes for them includes long driving periods. And as those who have been on these will know, whether as a personal road trip, a business trip or for some other purpose, long drives mean the potential for running into some adverse weather.

At Warner Vans of Utah, we’re proud to offer custom sprinter vans that will hold up against even the most inclement weather you might encounter. From our luxury Mercedes-Benz sprinters to industrial vans and all our other options, you can count on high-quality manufacturing and durability no matter what weather you run into. One common concern for drivers, and an area that has a few misconceptions associated with it: Lightning storms, and whether your vehicle is the safest place for you to be during such a storm. Let’s go over everything you might need to know here.

Safer Than Outdoors – But Not Safer Than Indoors

As many are well aware, vehicles are considered a relatively safe haven for people during a major lightning storm that threatens to strike nearby areas. For reasons both inherently obvious and slightly more complex, it makes more sense to be in a lower, sheltered location than it does to be outside directly facing this kind of storm.

However, this theme can be taken a bit too far in some cases. Some people actually believe that being in their vehicle during a lightning storm is safer than being inside a well-protected building – this simply isn’t true. If you can locate a safe shelter during this period, it’s absolutely preferable to even the most well-protected vehicle, even including sprinters.

Metal Framework, the True Savior

Another misconception about vehicles and lightning surrounds tires, which many people believe are the conductor element that make vehicles a safe haven during lightning storms. The belief is that the rubber in tires is what absorbs the electricity if the vehicle happens to be hit by lightning.

Again, this isn’t actually true. In reality, it’s the metal frame of a vehicle that serves as the main protection. Lightning naturally flows to the most easily conductive material it strikes, which in your vehicle will be the metal frame – the frame directs the electricity into the ground, in turn.

Keep Driving?

If a lightning storm begins as you’re driving, seek shelter nearby if there’s enough road visibility and decent enough conditions to continue driving. If not, though, such as situations where heavy rain or hail makes this a dangerous proposition, you should pull to the side of the road. Avoid touching the metal parts of the vehicle if you can, such as the steering wheel, radio, phone chargers or any metal handles.

For more on safely navigating a lightning storm in your sprinter van, or to learn about any of our luxury sprinter van options, speak to the staff at Warner Vans of Utah today.