Rubber is non-conductive so it can't ground you. Let alone the fact that on a bike if you're stopped in traffic I would guess you had your leg down allowing the lightning to ground that way. Lightning protects occupants in cars because of the highly conductive metal cage around them.iwannadie wrote:i always throught the rubber tires would ground you or something... guess not shesh that sucks.flynrider wrote:I usually don't wait under overpasses. I just get wet and keep on riding. The only time I'll stop is if there is lightning close by. Even that didn't used to stop me from riding, until I got zapped while stuck in a traffic jam on the freeway. I got lucky because the main bolt hit a guardrail about 12 ft. away from me. I got a splinter bolt that hit the top of my helmet and exited through my hands and feet. Fortunately, I was soaking wet, so there wasn't much resistance (i.e. less damage). I escaped with momentary blindness and deafness, and some minor burns on my palms and feet. It took about 6 hrs. for my hearing to go back to normal.
Now when I'm on the bike and I see lightning, I don't screw around. I get under cover and wait until it passes (however long that might be). I can't afford to push my luck again
I'm surprised he got zapped in the first place...you'd think there would be a bigger truck with a cb antenna or a light pole/telephone pole nearby...guess not...