Lightning strikes the best conductor on the ground, not necessarily the tallest object. In some cases, the best conductor might be a human being. A car's rubber tires give protection from lightning. Actually the car itself is very well insulated and offers more protection than being outside in the storm. Of course, the exception to this is the convertible, which provides virtually no protection.
Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
The Empire State building, as an example, is struck by lightning many times every year. Lightning cannot strike from very far away. Lightning can actually knock you off your feet and cause severe injury from as far as half a mile away. Anticipating Lightning Lightning always accompanies thunderstorms, so your first line of defense is to keep an eye and ear to the sky. Equate thunder with lightning, even if lightning is not visible where you area.