What should you do if you experience a tire blowout while driving?

Experiencing a tire blowout can be a frightening situation while driving, but knowing how to respond appropriately is crucial for maintaining safety. Gradually steering to a safe location is the correct action to take in this scenario. When you encounter a tire blowout, your vehicle will likely pull to one side due to the sudden loss of air in the tire. Instead of applying the brakes suddenly, which could lead to loss of control, it is vital to keep a steady grip on the steering wheel and steer the vehicle in a smooth, controlled manner toward the side of the road or a safe area to stop. This helps in slowly decelerating while maintaining control over the vehicle's direction.

While turning on the hazard lights is an important safety measure once you've gotten to a safe spot, it does not address the immediate need to control the vehicle during the blowout. Similarly, speeding up may seem tempting as a way to regain control, but this can exacerbate the situation and increase the risk of losing control altogether. Therefore, gradually steering to a safe location is the best strategy for handling a tire blowout effectively.