What to do if your car tire punctures?

Driving on the beloved roads of Malaysia is a form of high-risk gambling.

You may reach your destination safely but if unfortunate, you might get stranded in the middle of the road/highway due to a punctured or burst tire.

This problem can occur due to several factors such as sharp foreign objects puncturing the tire, the sidewall possibly tearing due to impact from potholes, or possibly a leakage issue within the valve structure itself.

If this problem occurs, you might experience heavy steering response, difficulty in starting, and increasingly loud tire noises.

Your car may also tend to veer to the left or right, or lose control even when driving on a straight road.

If an unexpected incident occurs (such as a tire burst), do not panic and try to follow the five steps you should take:

 

1. Control the braking force

Sudden braking may cause your vehicle to lose control and endanger not only your own life but also the lives of other road users.

So, the first thing you should do is gently press and pump the brake pedal until the vehicle is at a controllable speed.

For non-ABS car owners, this is the time to realize ABS by yourself – Aku Brek Sendiri!

 

2. Control the steering direction gently

In emergency situations, you may feel the car pulling to the left or right, depending on which tire has burst.

Just like the brakes, the steering wheel also needs to be controlled gently against the car’s tendency, and most importantly, ensure the car is in the appropriate lane.

Aggressively turning the steering wheel will cause your car to spin and lose control.

 

3. Use a lower gear

One way to slow down the car is to use the engine braking technique.

Manual transmission car owners are likely familiar with this technique – just switch to a lower gear position.

 

4. Turn on the hazard lights

Ensure the hazard lights are turned on while controlling and stopping the car to warn other road users.

Modern cars now have automatic hazard light activation in distressing situations.

If you belong to the old-school car owners, do not worry and panic because your car’s hazard lights can also be activated manually. You just need to know where the emergency light button is in your car.

What you need to worry about is drivers who intentionally turn on hazard lights while driving in the rain.

 

5. Warning triangle board – where to place it?

When stopping in the emergency lane, make sure to place the warning triangle 45 meters behind your car.

Most new cars are now equipped with this emergency kit, so it is not an excuse to overlook this very safety aspects while waiting for assistance.