What is the safest way to handle steering during a tire blowout?

When dealing with a tire blowout, maintaining control of the vehicle is critical for safety. The most effective way to handle steering during this situation is to stay steady and steer towards safety. This means keeping a firm grip on the steering wheel and gently guiding the vehicle in a straight line while gradually reducing speed. The objective is to avoid sudden movements that can cause loss of control, such as jerking the wheel or making sharp turns.

By steering towards safety, you allow yourself time to assess the situation and navigate the vehicle to a safe location, such as the shoulder of the road. This approach minimizes the risk of overcorrecting, which can lead to a loss of control or further instability in the vehicle's handling. It’s also essential to keep calm, as panicking can lead to erratic driving behavior.

In contrast, letting go of the steering wheel or rotating it sharply can lead to catastrophic loss of control, potentially resulting in an accident. Steering into the direction of the skid may seem intuitive in other scenarios, but with a blowout, it can actually worsen the situation by causing the vehicle to veer off course unpredictably. Thus, the most prudent action is to stay steady and steer towards safety.