A friend was very nearly killed after having one of his tires blow out on a busy freeway. He will be walking with a cane for the rest of his life. There are no guarantees - but there do exist a few things you can do to keep a bad situation from getting any worse.

The first warning you will have is the feeling of the car trying to swerve toward the blown-out tire. Compensate by releasing the gas pedal - DON'T brake! - and steering in as straight a line as possible. You will have to steer slightly away from the tire that is blown out.

Turn on your warning flashers to let other traffic know you are not in complete control of your car.

If you are on a multilane road, gradually work your way toward the right lane and then the shoulder, as traffic allows. Keep in mind as you do so that your car will be trying to pull toward the blown-out tire the entire time: and it may take quite a bit of strength to keep it steady. At the same time begin reducing your speed by gearing down. Don't apply your brakes until you have gotten your vehicle down to half normal highway speed or less, as they will just increase your car's determination to veer out of your control. Do get to a paved shoulder as soon as possible, but don't turn onto a soft shoulder until you can do so gradually at a reduced speed.

Open your hood and trunk. This is a common signal of distress that is easy for other drivers to see.

If you are able to change your tire yourself, pull as far away from traffic as possible. If you cannot find enough space to get clear of traffic, try to move your vehicle until you do find that space, or call an auto club or tow truck. Any savings you might have had by trying to change your tire on the spot is not worth your life if someone hits you.

Even if you never get a blown-out tire, you should never let yourself get into a driving situation where you have no way out. Any number of factors could suddenly change without warning. A classic rule of accident avoidance is to always drive as though the person beside or ahead of you will do the most idiotic thing possible. If your tire blows out, suddenly - through no fault of your own - you just might become that person to someone else. Make sure you always have an exit plan: just in case.

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