What to Do If You Get a Flat Tyre on the Motorway
Suffering a flat tyre or blowout at 70mph is one of the most unnerving things that can happen on the road. Knowing exactly what to do in the moments that follow keeps you safe and gets you moving again quickly. Here is the UK-specific advice every driver should know.
Keep control and slow down gradually
If a tyre deflates or blows out while you are driving, grip the wheel firmly with both hands and keep the car pointing straight. Do not brake sharply, ease off the accelerator and let the car slow down naturally. Sudden braking or steering can cause you to lose control, especially with a front tyre failure.
Indicate and move to the hard shoulder (or, on a smart motorway, the nearest emergency refuge area or exit) as smoothly as you can. Try to get as far to the left as possible, with your wheels turned slightly to the left.
Get yourself to safety
Once stopped, switch on your hazard lights. On a conventional motorway with a hard shoulder, exit the vehicle via the left-hand (passenger) doors and stand behind the safety barrier, well away from moving traffic. Take any passengers and pets with you.
Never attempt to change a tyre yourself on a live motorway or hard shoulder, passing traffic makes it extremely dangerous. Do not place a warning triangle on a motorway either; it puts you at risk walking back to the carriageway.
Call for help
From a safe position behind the barrier, call for assistance. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. Otherwise, contact a 24/7 mobile tyre fitting or recovery service and give them your location, use the marker posts on the hard shoulder or the location displayed on the nearest sign to pinpoint where you are.
A mobile tyre fitter can supply and fit a brand-new tyre at your location, meaning you avoid a tow to a garage and the wait that comes with it. On smart motorways without a hard shoulder, follow Highways England guidance and stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt on only if you cannot safely exit.
Prevention: reduce the risk of a blowout
- Check tyre pressures at least monthly and before long journeys.
- Inspect tyres for cuts, bulges, and embedded objects.
- Keep tread depth well above the 1.6mm UK legal minimum.
- Replace tyres that are cracked or more than around 10 years old.
- Avoid potholes and kerbs where possible, impact damage is a common cause of sudden failure.
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