Steps to Take If You Blow a Tire While Driving
How to safely handle a popped tire while driving.
The idea of blowing a tire while driving is frightening for many drivers, and rightfully so. If handled incorrectly, this could cause you to lose control of your vehicle and get into an accident. If this driving situation ever happens to you, it’s important that you stay calm and try to execute the following steps as carefully as possible. Here’s what you should do to safely handle a popped tire while driving.
1) Maintain a Firm Grip on the Wheel
There’s a chance that a blown tire might cause your car to swerve. To stay on the safe side, you must anticipate this sudden movement and keep a steady grip on your steering wheel to ensure that you keep your car under control.
2) Gradually Reduce Your Speed
While your first reaction to blowing a tire might be to slam on your brakes, doing so can cause your car to skid out of your control. Rather than braking, simply take your foot off the gas pedal to gradually reduce your car’s speed. As your vehicle slows, steer it towards the side of the road.
3) Pull Over
Once your car’s speed is reduced to about 20 mph, you are safe to apply your brakes. Do so slowly to ensure that your in-tact tires retain their traction on the road. At this point, you should pull over to the side of the road and bring your car to a complete stop.
4) Alert Other Drivers
Once you are safely off the roadway, you should shift your car into park and apply your parking brake. At this point, you should also turn on your car’s hazard lights. This will warn other drivers that you are experiencing car troubles and will indicate that they should slow down and give you a wide berth when passing by.
5) Repair Your Tire
Finally, you can take the necessary steps to replace or repair your flat tire. If you do not feel safe or do not know how to change your tire, then call roadside assistance to take care of this for you.
These are the steps that you should take to safely handle a popped tire while driving. Want another way to stay safe while on the road? Then make sure you have the proper auto insurance protections in place. For assistance with your coverage needs, contact the experts at Remland Insurance in Orange, California today.
