Van vs Downed Power Lines

[Jerry Prsha]

Ok, I spoke with a friend who is an Electrical Engineer about the whole "driving over power line" issue.

I told him that I've been hearing that it's dangerous to drive over power lines after they've fallen. He asked me "are the hanging or on the ground?" I said "on the ground."

He said, "That's a load of crap." and of course I bust out laughing. I said, "there's no danger from the electricity?"

He said " No... Power isn't going to decide to take a path through your tires and through your car just to complete the path."

He did say that if you hit a hanging power line, you could do some real damage though...

So... I would trust this guy with my life.. I consider the matter closed in *my* mind...

 

[JF Massicotte]

Are you sure your information on the story is good Rob? Maybe they were hanging and still live. In all my years of chasing and the years on the fire dept running down power lines called in, not once EVER have I seen one laying on the ground that was live and it wasn't obvious. When that much electricity grounds out, it welds.

If you watch carefully at te beginning of the video you see the lines hanging over the vehicle...

 

[rdale]

I don't see it - I see flames just starting out of the back of the van (right side.)

 

[Bill Tabor]

I've driven over the downed bare metal cable electrical lines before with no problem, but it is a bit of a worry. Not sure I will ever feel confident doing this. Is it possible that some of the lines not arcing on the ground are not arcing because they are insulated but still live?

 

[Eian Greene]

I've driven over the downed bare metal cable electrical lines before with no problem, but it is a bit of a worry. Not sure I will ever feel confident doing this. Is it possible that some of the lines not arcing on the ground are not arcing because they are insulated but still live?

Insulated wire is found a lot on secondary (the service to your house) drops, as three or four wires twisted around each other. If the primary powerlines are dead, then these will be too. The most voltage you'll find on a secondary drop is 480 volts, with residential ones being the familiar 120/240 volts.