Getting a flat tire while travelling at highway speeds is something that most drivers dread and rightly so, because it can present multiple dangers, from losing control of your own vehicle to running the risk of getting slammed by another automobile.
When a flat tire happened to this Los Angeles driver, he lost control of his car at around 70mph (113km/h) and did a 180-degree spin before coming to rest facing the traffic.
Luckily, for him, the Nissan SUV driver following from behind had his/her eyes on the road and slowed down just in time to avoid a crash that could have resulted in a life-threatening pile-up.
Here’s the driver’s account of the incident from Liveleak:
“So, on my drive home from L.A. today, this happened ….. ever spun your car on the interstate and ended up facing the wrong direction ? Go to 1:50 to where I crapped my pants.
I was cruising at about 70 on I-5 north, near Valencia (ironically only a couple of miles from where Paul Walker died). Without warning, my left rear tire disintegrated, leading to complete loss of traction and control. Skidded into the shoulder then across 2 1/2 lanes of traffic before ending up backwards in the center of the highway.
I really owe it to the people driving behind me for staying attentive and on-the-ball. Otherwise, I so easily could have crashed. Trust me, it is a helpless and stomach turning feeling to be screeching sideways down the interstate, with no control of your car, other cars zooming past your hood, and not be able to do a single thing about it.
Apologies for the blurry video, as my dash cam is a cheap, Chinese one that goes out of focus when left in the sun for long periods of time. And for the Joe Rogan standup on the radio.”
If you’re in doubt about what you should do when you get a flat on the highway, the National Safety Council (NCS) offers some very useful tips. Basically, they say shouldn’t slam on the brakes, firmly hold on to the steering wheel and progressively slow down by lifting your foot off the accelerator before you steer the car towards the breakdown lane or an exit. We’ve also attached a copy of NCS’s tips below.
By John Halas
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