How should you respond to a tire blowout while driving?

When responding to a tire blowout while driving, the best course of action is to gradually reduce your speed and steer straight to a safe area. This approach helps maintain vehicle control, which is crucial during such a sudden and unexpected event. Sudden movements, such as sharply turning the steering wheel or applying brakes hard, can lead to loss of control, potentially causing further accidents or vehicle skidding.

Gradually reducing speed allows the driver to maintain more stability and avoid swerving, while steering straight helps keep the vehicle aligned on the road. Once you've slowed down sufficiently, you can safely steer towards a shoulder or another safe area to stop your vehicle.

Other options, such as immediately steering off the road or applying brakes hard, can result in dangerous maneuvers that increase the risk of losing control of the vehicle. Shifting gears may not directly address the immediate need for control during a blowout and can take your focus away from steering and safely navigating the situation.