You're driving and suddenly you hear a loud bang! Your car acts possessed as the steering wheel tries to escape your control. You have just experienced a blown tire, and if it has ever happened to you then you know how frightening it can be.

If this happens to you, don't panic! You CAN maintain control of your vehicle but only if you can control your own emotions and follow these simple instructions.

1. DON'T TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR ALL AT ONCE- This is a person's first instinct in any car emergency and its usually a good one, but not in this case. Any sudden change in your forward motion will increase the difficulty of keeping the car under control and control is your main objective.

2. DO EASE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS- While fight the steering wheel for control if you ease off the gas pedal you will find the car becoming easier and easier to control.

3. QUICKLY DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT THE CAR TO END UP- Taking traffic flow into account and the type of road you are on, decide if you are going to aim for the shoulder or, if the highway is divided, the median. Once you have a plan, stick with it so other cars can accommodate you.

4. DON'T HIT THE BREAK- Here again, we all have the gut reaction to stop the vehicle as quickly as possible, however, what good does it do us to be stopped sideways on the highway? While you are trying to ease your crippled car off the highway you don't want to make it a bigger target then it has to be.

5. USE FIRM BUT LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BREAKS- When your car has slowed and you are pulling off the road you can apply a little bit of break pressure to slow the car as long as it doesn't cause control issues.

Once you are well off the road you can assess the situation further and also let out all of those emotions you've had under control.

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