The Washington times., 1920-07-31
MOTORING DURING
THUNDER STORMS
there Is No More Danger In
Machine Than at Home,
Says Expert.

"Pretty black cloud up ahead" we
remarked to friend wife, as the car
purred along over a gravel road as
smooth as a hardwood floor. Looks
as though we were In for heavy
thunder storm"
II hate thunder storms-especially
when we're In the car" replied our
companion from the rear seat. Il al,
ways think how unpleasantly several
gallons OF gasoline might act IL the
car happened TO be struck"
Probably we wouldn't know much
about gasoline or anything else just
about that time" we Ventured.
Everything would be over in less
time than one could think about IT."
The progress of the storm, sweep
ing down upon us, combined with the
speed OF the car threatened to bring
us into the zone OF disturbance In a
very short time. The entire west soon
filled with an ominous mass OF cloud,
greenish blue In color. scared with
vivid flashes OF fiery red. Even above
the sound OF the open exhaust the
deep reverberations OF thunder rolled
almost overhead. A stop was made
while the curtains hurriedly were but
toned into place.
Let her come" we said. as we
opened the throttle. I'VE won't get
wet any how
"No, but-listen to thatw replied
friend wife, as crash like the ex-
plosion OF a sixteen-inch gun split the
air. That's getting too close for com
fort. Drive in somewhere until It's
over"
Just at that moment the storm
really broke. Sheets OF rain. bearing
a suspicion of hail, enveloped this car
and shut out the sight of objects at
any distance. Speed was slackened
to avoid mishaps and a lookout kept
through the dripping window lights
in hope of seeing a friendly barn
door standing open. No such good
fortune was in store. The delugc
was Sc terrific that it seemed the
part of wisdom to remain snug ana
dry rather than risk the drenching
incident to forcing ourselves unbid-
den to some OF the many farm homes
we passed. Meanwhile the crack and
crash of the electrical display was
awe inspiring because of its very In
tensity.
"And you Just had the tank filled
at the last town! You're-sitting-
right-on--top-of- almost sob
bed friend wife.
Electrical storms on the open road
u
This one, which passed in due time
without untoward results, set US to
thinking, however, about the COM
parative hazard OF such a situation.
A car built largely of steel, thorough
iy drenched with rain and travelling
perhaps in mud-which it seemed to
our untutored mind would nulify the
Insulation provided ordinarily by the
tires-what chance did such situa-
ton afford of being struck by light
ming when travelling the open country
in a violent electrical storm? Upon
questioning several supposedly well
informed persons we found them quite
as confused as ourselves. Letters OF
inquiry were then dispatched to sew
eral recognized men in science. 1t Is
believed their composite opinion, out
lined below, will hold the same COM
fort for many other motorists that
it has for friend wife.
There Is no more dan<er In being
in an automobile in an electrical
storm than there would be in house
or other covering. The automobile
offers no attraction for the electrical
discharge. The only possible danger
Is that the exhausted gases might Of
fer a somewhat reader path for the
discharge. This, however, Is highly
improbable and quite unworthy OF Sc
rious consideration. The operation or
the motor and the consequent activity
of the cars electrical equipment would
not affect the situation at all. The
hazard Of the situation is far less than
though one should seek shelter in
storm of this kind under a tree"
Curiosity prompted us to pursue the