So, a couple weeks back there was some thunder that could be heard from a distance. I thought nothing of it on the way home with the top down. Then I wondered, if there is thunder normally there is lightning. Maybe it's not so good to have the top down. There was no lightning just thunder at the time.

I did some searching to day and found a site with some common sense tips and maybe some we have not thought of when motoring with a convertible.

So definitely no top down with lightning and I'd say with just thunder too.

NWS JetStream - Lightning Safety


Link to the vert driving tips. I did not copy and paste since it's copyrighted.

Instructions for your first convertible by John T. Reed

 

Safety first! Thanks for the info...

 

Based on the title, I thought I was gonna read about some weight reduction tips for the track. But, apparently you are just trying to keep us all safe!

Since i started driving at 16, I have always owned convertibles so the top up rule with thunder is a safety tip that I have always practiced. I am however still working on the speed thing - I seem to be having a harder time with that safety rule!

 

Yeah LOL. I gotta learn how to spell . I'll get it corrected as it has a whole different meaning otherwise.

What is lightening?

 

nice find! haha most of them are common sense if you think about it.. but still good basic tips to live by... but I don't think I'll ever own an Indiana Jones style fedora though..

 

HAHA, yeah. The fedora does not seem practical and I always have my windows down except during the cold winter days. I make sure to have a cap (tethered) and sunscreen on my ears.

 

Interesting the article says convertibles are not safe. Wonder if that applies to our hardtop verts as well?

 

It should be just as safe as the coupes with the top up, lightning wise.

 

The first link is no longer correct.

I'm curious what NOAA says about lightning. US Air Force used to say outside personnel were safe if lightning was more than 3 miles distant. After an airman got fried by lightning from a storm five miles away, Air Force now requires an eight mile buffer, I believe.

In case this is new to any of you, it takes sound five seconds to travel one mile. That's at STP, of course, but it's a good rule of thumb.

 

I have that problem with speed, & i'm 56. The 2009 Infiniti just makes u want to go faster. Mostly i'll go a little over the speed limit. But 1nce in awhile. U get this URGE