You have just started enjoying the drive in a busy motorway, and then bang, you have just had a tire burst! Any driver who has experienced a puncture or a tire burst while driving on a busy highway knows how terrifying the experience can be. If it ever happens to you, the advice is not to panic as it is something that has happened to others. Here is how to deal with a punctured tire on a busy highway.
Move the vehicle safely off the highway
Getting the vehicle safely off the motorway and onto the side or the hard shoulder is the first thing you should do when you get a puncture or a tire burst. If there are damages, it is recommended that you contact your insurer once the immediate emergency is over. You will then be advised on what next to do or offered guidance on the next steps.
Second, move the passengers out of the vehicle
Prior to taking any other action, it is your responsibility to ensure he and his passengers are safe by parking the vehicle as far to the left on the hard shoulder or side as possible. While at it, the wheels should be turned to the left. Move the passengers out of the car from the nearside to keep them away from the fast moving traffic on the motorway. Make sure they are all standing back on the far side of the safety barrier.
Make the car as visible as you can
After making sure that everyone is standing on the other side of the safety barrier, it is now time to make your vehicle as visible as you can. One of the best ways to do this is to turn on the hazard lights and placing a reflective triangle a good distance from the vehicle so as to warn the oncoming traffic of a hazard ahead. Note that it is compulsory that every car owner have a high visibility jacket and a warning triangle as part of the vehicle’s basic safety equipments. These are for use in exactly this sort of a situation – a punctured tire on a busy highway!
Contact a towing service for help
Once you have made sure that your passengers are safely on the other side of the safety barrier and the parked vehicle is clearly visible, it is now time to contact a towing service from, Ansonia, CT on your phone. If you do not have an available phone, you can do so from any of the emergency phones on the hard shoulder. If this is not possible, meaning that you have to walk on the hard shoulder to the nearest phone, then make sure to wear the high visibility jacket and walk facing the oncoming traffic. The towing service can assist you with a punctured tire if you have a spare one or tow your vehicle to the nearest mechanic for a replacement.
What if I’m still determined to change the tire?
If you determined to change the tire yourself because you have a spare tire, it is still advisable to alert the motorway unit to the fact that your vehicle has had a puncture and is parked on the hard shoulder. After this, line up everything that is required, i.e., the wheel wrench, jack, spare wheel and the locking wheel nut adaptor, prior to beginning to take the wheel off. By so doing, you will be as quick and efficient as possible. When you are ready to set off again, make sure to build up your speed on the hard shoulder prior to safely rejoining the highway.
