According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 11,000 tire-related crashes occur nationwide each year, often times resulting in an auto insurance claim for the motorists involved.
Should you experience a blowout while on the road, though, there are steps you can take to ensure you get off the road safely - and avoid hitting another car in the process. But first off, you have to be aware of the blowout's symptoms.
Perhaps the biggest difference between a flat tire and a blown tire is how the car performs in the immediate aftermath. When a tire pops, the car will naturally slow down because of the drag that the flat creates. With a blowout, not only does the car slow to a crawl, but the vehicle will veer to the left or right, depending on which tire is damaged.
Move slowly to the shoulder of road
Your immediate instinct when a tire blows may be to apply the brakes. However, a better move is allow the car to slow down gradually. In fact, it's best to apply firm, steady pressure on the gas pedal so that the vehicle maintains momentum.
Steer in opposite direction
As aforementioned, the direction that your cars lists towards will depend on which side of the vehicle has been affected. For instance, if the blowout is on the right, that's the direction your car will pull in. In order to get the car back under your control, turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction that you're moving, making sure not to jerk the wheel too forcefully.
Park at a safe distance from oncoming traffic
With a flat tire, you may have the time to find a parking lot that you can park in to get it fixed. But with a blown tire, the goal is to get off the street as quickly as possible. Once you've gotten to the corner of the road successfully, pull as far into the breakdown lane as possible so you can exit your vehicle and diagnose the blowout more closely.
The best kind of blown tires are those that never happen. To reduce the chances, regular tire maintenance is the key. Every few weeks, take a look at the pressure of your tires, especially during cold days, as the air temperature affects inflation level. When your tires look like they could use some air, fill them up, as not having enough pressure is the biggest reason why blowouts happen in the first place.
For details on what you can do to better maintain your auto insurance policy, speak with your local Selective agent.
Should you experience a blowout while on the road, though, there are steps you can take to ensure you get off the road safely - and avoid hitting another car in the process. But first off, you have to be aware of the blowout's symptoms.
Perhaps the biggest difference between a flat tire and a blown tire is how the car performs in the immediate aftermath. When a tire pops, the car will naturally slow down because of the drag that the flat creates. With a blowout, not only does the car slow to a crawl, but the vehicle will veer to the left or right, depending on which tire is damaged.
Move slowly to the shoulder of road
Your immediate instinct when a tire blows may be to apply the brakes. However, a better move is allow the car to slow down gradually. In fact, it's best to apply firm, steady pressure on the gas pedal so that the vehicle maintains momentum.
Steer in opposite direction
As aforementioned, the direction that your cars lists towards will depend on which side of the vehicle has been affected. For instance, if the blowout is on the right, that's the direction your car will pull in. In order to get the car back under your control, turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction that you're moving, making sure not to jerk the wheel too forcefully.
Park at a safe distance from oncoming traffic
With a flat tire, you may have the time to find a parking lot that you can park in to get it fixed. But with a blown tire, the goal is to get off the street as quickly as possible. Once you've gotten to the corner of the road successfully, pull as far into the breakdown lane as possible so you can exit your vehicle and diagnose the blowout more closely.
The best kind of blown tires are those that never happen. To reduce the chances, regular tire maintenance is the key. Every few weeks, take a look at the pressure of your tires, especially during cold days, as the air temperature affects inflation level. When your tires look like they could use some air, fill them up, as not having enough pressure is the biggest reason why blowouts happen in the first place.
For details on what you can do to better maintain your auto insurance policy, speak with your local Selective agent.
