If a tire suddenly blows out while you are driving, you should:
- Grip the steering wheel firmly, slow down, and exit the traffic lane. ✓
- Pump the brakes rapidly.
- Brake hard and steer toward the right edge of the roadway.
Answer: A. Grip the steering wheel firmly, slow down, and exit the traffic lane.
Grip the steering wheel firmly, slow down, and exit the traffic lane.
Why this is the answer
The manual's blowout section says to hold the wheel tightly and slowly lift your foot off the gas pedal. If the vehicle starts to skid, you handle it the way you would on ice or snow. It also says not to touch the brake until the vehicle is under control, and to leave the road only once it is safe to do so. So the calm sequence in the correct answer is exactly what the handbook describes: hold on, ease off the gas, get the car controlled, then move off the road.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. Pump the brakes rapidly. — Pumping the brakes rapidly is not what the manual describes; it says not to use your brake at all until the vehicle is controlled.
- C. Brake hard and steer toward the right edge of the roadway. — Braking hard right away is the opposite of the manual's advice, which is to take your foot off the gas first and leave braking until you have control.
Remember it
Blowout drill: both hands tight on the wheel, foot off the gas, brakes untouched until the car stops pulling, then off the road when it is clear.