Summer is my favorite time of year. I have great memories of summer breaks from school and family road trips. I remember when I turned 16 and got my driver’s license! My family and I went to Florida to see my grandmother and spent time on the beach. We enjoyed the Florida sunshine, and then started back on our 17-hour trip home. After we stopped to eat, my father handed me the keys to our family car. He told me it was my turn to drive! I remember thinking, “Really, you want me to drive on I-75?” My dad has been both a sheriff’s deputy and a truck driver and I knew this was going to be “summer school” for me.
For anyone not familiar with I-75, it is a divided highway that has several lanes of traffic, and vehicles travel at many different speeds. I remember being in the far left lane when I heard a loud BANG! The car started to pull to the left. We had blown our rear tire!
Here are the important tips my dad shared with me:
- Stay calm (this was the toughest one for me!)
- Don’t brake (braking can cause your wheels to lock up and end up in a total loss of control).
- Let the car slow down gradually.
- Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel.
- Turn on the four-way flashers.
- Move to the right side of the road and pull over once the car has slowed down enough.
Everything seemed to happen so quickly, but somehow I managed to cross several lanes of traffic and get the car safely off the highway. Now that was not a lesson I was expecting to learn!
I remember being scared about how fast the vehicles were screaming by. We had unloaded all of our luggage into the grass to get to the spare tire when a wonderful Good Samaritan pulled over. He quickly got our tire changed and we were back on the road. I am so thankful for my dad’s advice, the man that helped us, and my guardian angel!
If you find yourself with a disabled vehicle, I recommend you call for professional help right away. Being outside of the vehicle can be a very dangerous place to be, especially considering other drivers are not expecting that. Did you know some auto insurance companies offer Roadside Assistance when you need a tire changed, a tow, or even if you run out of gas? It usually doesn’t cost much, but it is great peace of mind to know that help is only a phone call away! Before you take to the road, I recommend you check with your independent insurance agent to see if you have this important coverage. Please be safe, and enjoy your summer!
Great article, Lorali! Thanks for sharing your tips 🙂
Thanks Bea. Hope you never have a tire blowout though!