If one of your tires blows out as you are driving, you should:
- Brake hard immediately.
- Try to steer straight while gradually slowing by removing your foot from the gas pedal. ✓
- Maintain your current speed and steer straight.
- Swerve back and forth to alert traffic behind you.
Answer: B. Try to steer straight while gradually slowing by removing your foot from the gas pedal.
Try to steer straight and gradually slow down by taking your foot off the gas pedal.
Why this is the answer
The Texas handbook's flat tire or blowout section says not to brake suddenly or hard. Instead, it tells you to take your foot off the gas pedal, apply the brakes gently, and steer straight ahead to a stop. That matches the choice about steering straight while gradually slowing by releasing the gas. The key is to keep the car pointed straight and let speed come down smoothly rather than making a sudden, hard stop.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Brake hard immediately. — Braking hard right away goes against the handbook's warning not to brake suddenly and hard during a blowout.
- C. Maintain your current speed and steer straight. — Holding your current speed ignores the handbook's instruction to remove your foot from the gas and slow gently to a stop.
- D. Swerve back and forth to alert traffic behind you. — Swerving back and forth conflicts with the handbook's direction to steer straight ahead to a stop.
Remember it
If a tire blows, think straight first: hold the wheel steady and let the car slow before braking gently.