During a tire blowout, drivers should primarily maintain control by:

• A. Focusing on steering
• B. Braking immediately
• C. Shifting to neutral
• D. Stopping on the roadway right away

Answer: (A)

When a tire blows, the priority is to keep the vehicle under control by focusing on steering. A burst tire can grab the car and pull toward the damaged side, so you need a firm, steady grip and smooth steering to guide the car in a straight path toward a safe area. Braking hard or abruptly can cause the wheels to lock or the car to skid, making control harder, so braking immediately is not the right move. Shifting to neutral isn’t helpful here and can reduce traction and steering effectiveness, depending on the vehicle. Stopping right away in the roadway creates a new hazard for oncoming traffic and you’re unlikely to be able to safely move the car off the road if you haven’t already steered toward a shoulder. Instead, ease off the accelerator, keep a firm grip on the wheel, steer to stay in your lane, and gradually slow and pull over when you can do so safely.