It’s that time of the year when many of our scorching-hot highways are littered with remnants of tire blowouts. Of course, the best way to prevent blowouts is to make sure all tire maintenance guidelines are followed. But if a sudden tire blowout does occur, your drivers need to respond safely, without panicking. Here’s some advice, provided by the Georgia Department of Driver Services, on how drivers should respond to a tire blowout:

-- Grasp the steering wheel firmly and take your foot off the accelerator to allow the vehicle to roll to a stop.

-- Apply the brakes lightly if necessary and safe to do so.

-- Do not move to the shoulder of the road until the vehicle has slowed greatly. If the blowout causes the vehicle to swerve onto the shoulder, do not try to get back on the pavement. Let the vehicle coast to a stop.

-- If the blowout has caused your vehicle to suddenly leave the roadway, don’t panic. Take your foot off the accelerator, grip the steering wheel tightly and be prepared to withstand sudden shocks. Don’t hit the brake pedal suddenly and hard. Use your brakes carefully.