What steps should you take if you experience a tire blowout?

In the event of a tire blowout, maintaining control is critical, which is why the appropriate response is to maintain steering control, slow down gradually, and safely pull off the road. When you experience a blowout, the vehicle can become difficult to control due to the sudden loss of tire pressure. By not making sudden movements, you can better manage the situation and avert potential accidents. Gradually reducing speed allows your vehicle to stabilize, which is essential in preventing skidding or rolling over.

Pulling off the road in a safe manner ensures that you are out of the flow of traffic and can address the tire issue without further risk to yourself or others on the roadway. Importantly, using brakes immediately or trying to accelerate can worsen control issues, and simply staying in motion while switching on hazard lights does not appropriately address the need to stop safely. Each of these alternative actions could increase the risk of losing control over the vehicle further.