How to Handle a Blowout on The Road
Before leaving on a long road trip, it is important to do a thorough vehicle check to ensure that you will have a safe and smooth journey.
No matter how many checks and double-checks you do, there is always the possibility that things can take a turn for the worse, and that you may be unprepared when this happens. Events such as driving over a huge pothole or a sharp object can panic and damage to your tyres.
A tyre blowout has the potential to become a very serious safety hazard, for you and those around you. It is estimated that tyre blowouts cause over 400 fatalities, more than 10 000 injuries, and about 78 000 road accidents every year!
Experiencing a tyre blowout while travelling at high speeds is extremely dangerous. This causes a sudden loss of pressure and increases the risk of losing control of the vehicle. It is better to be prepared for this situation than not, therefore we have compiled the below list of points to follow and keep in mind if and when this happens to you.
Stay calm – try to stay focused and not get overwhelmed. You should have a firm grip on the steering wheel to try and stay in control of the vehicle.
Do not slam on the brakes as this might cause the vehicle to spin out of control. Instead, do everything you can to keep the vehicle as straight as possible. Your car may automatically want to veer in the direction of the blowout, therefore you want to counter this action by keeping it straight. Try to avoid overcorrecting.
Gradually slow the vehicle down by easing off the accelerator. If you drive a manual car and seem to be in control of the car, you can slowly gear down in order to bring the car to a slow and steady stop. If you drive an automatic car, you should remain in Drive while slowly lifting your foot off the accelerator.
Once your vehicle slows down to about 50km/h, you can then start to put some pressure on the brakes until you come to a gentle stop. Once you have safely come to a stop on the side of the road, you can switch on your emergency lights (hazards) while waiting for help. This will make you more visible to approaching cars and will allow them to steer clear of you or even stop to offer help. If you have your emergency triangle on hand, it would be a good idea to set this up a few metres behind your car as a warning.
Before you leave for a long road trip, ensure that you have all the tools necessary to change a tyre in case of an emergency, such as a tyre blowout. This includes having a spare tyre that is in good condition and checking your tyres air pressure before leaving.
We hope that these pointers have helped you to feel more prepared when embarking on your next road trip.
How to Handle a Blowout on The Road
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