Fallen Power Lines
Power lines by themselves are not dangerous as long as the object touching them is not gounded. You can see birds sitting on power lines and not getting a shock. If someone touches “hot” power line and at the same time is standing on wet ground or is grounded they complete the circuit and the electricity flows through the person causing an electrical shock.
Fallen Power Line on the Car
If a power line has fallen across a car assume that the line is live. The rubber tires of the car form a satisfactory insulation between the fallen wire and the ground. The people in the car are safe as long as they do not touch the metal frame of the car and the ground – at the same time. This would bypass the insulation of the car’s tires. The person should stay in the car if help is on its way. If the car is on fire, in a dangerous location, or no help is on the way then the occupants can jump clear of the car making sure that they are not touching the car and the ground at the same time.