Auto Accidents Caused by Tire Blowouts
Most people who have driven along any highway have, at one point or another, noticed fragments of tires on the road or along the side of the road. These shreds of tire are typically the result of a tire blowout. A tire often blows out when it is low on air and the pressure of driving on the low tire gets to be too much, causing it to blowout and shred. A tire may also burst when it is extremely worn and has not been replaced in a timely manner. A tire blowout can cause a severe accident, injuring and even killing innocent people. This type of accident is something that can be prevented by taking the proper precautions.
Some things you can do to prevent a tire blowout include:
- Periodic checks of the tread condition and air pressure in each tire on your vehicle
- Avoid potholes in the road
- Avoid traveling over speed bumps at high rates of speed
- Avoid overloading your car
Although keeping a watchful eye on the condition of your tires can be helpful, there are times when things happen so quickly that it is hard to notice. If you happen to experience a tire blowout, despite your precautions, please remember the following tips:
- There will most likely be a loud pop or explosive sound – try to remain calm
- Keep two hands on the steering wheel at all times
- Keep a safe distance between you and all other vehicles on the road
- Try to keep your car as steady as possible
- Slow down slowly and pull over to a safe place off the road
- Do not slam on the brakes
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- 27 percent of passenger cars on U.S. roadways are driven with one or more substantially under-inflated tires
- 9 percent of passenger cars are being driven on at least one “bald” tire. (For purposes of the survey conducted by the NHTSA, a tire was considered bald if it had 1/16th of an inch or less of tread depth.)
- Bald tires are between 1.5 and 1.8 times more likely to be under-inflated than are tires with deeper tread, depending on tire location.
Please take precautions to keep you and your loved ones safe.
