A tire blowout is one of the worst things that can happen while you’re driving. Tire blowouts are responsible for approximately 75,000 accidents in the U.S. every year.
Below are two tips to help you deal with such a situation in order to avoid injury to yourself or others.
Don’t slam on the brakes
Slamming on the brakes is almost a natural reaction when something goes wrong while driving. However, in a tire blowout scenario, it is important to fight the urge to aggressively hit the brakes. At the same time, it is vital to refrain from swerving or making any other sudden movements. When a tire is compromised, so too is your vehicle’s traction on the road. Any sudden movements put you at risk of completely losing control, veering off the road or even rolling over.
Composure is key
A tire blowout will make anyone nervous but it is important to retain your composure. You need to keep the vehicle on as straight a path as possible and allow it to come to a stop naturally. A vehicle with a tire blowout will naturally start to slow down. Once you have reached a slow speed, making losing control extremely unlikely, you can then start to apply the brakes until you come to a safe stop.
It is important to be prepared for all possibilities on the roadways. This will help to ensure that you remain safe. If you have been involved in a collision with another driver who suffered a tire blowout or other malfunction, it’s important to consider your legal rights in New Jersey.
