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Question

Difficulty: MediumTire Failure and Blowouts

While operating a commercial combination vehicle at 55 mph on a multi-lane highway, the driver suddenly experiences pronounced cab vibration and notices the rear of the vehicle fishtailing. Which action should the driver take first to maintain control and stop safely?

  1. A
    Apply firm service braking immediately to bring the vehicle to a rapid stop within the lane
  2. Grip the steering wheel firmly, stay off the brake pedal, and allow the vehicle to coast down before pulling overAnswer
  3. C
    Steer sharply against the direction of the rear sway while engaging the engine retarder to decelerate
  4. D
    Perform repeated snub braking by cycling heavy brake pressure down to 5 mph below the speed limit

Answer

Grip the steering wheel firmly, stay off the brake pedal, and allow the vehicle to coast down before pulling over
During a tire failure, the driver's primary responsibility is maintaining directional control. The driver must hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands, avoid touching the brake pedal until the vehicle has slowed significantly, allow the vehicle to coast down, and then steer smoothly off the road and brake lightly to a complete stop.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the symptoms of a rear tire failure (pronounced vibration and rear fishtailing/sway).
Driver recognizes that a drive or trailer tire has blown out rather than a steer tire.
Accurate symptom detection dictates the correct vehicle handling strategy.
2
Maintain a firm two-handed grip on the steering wheel to keep the vehicle in a straight path.
Directional stability is preserved despite asymmetric rolling resistance and vehicle sway.
Tire failure causes sudden dynamic forces that can rip the steering wheel from an unprepared grip.
3
Keep off the brake pedal and let the combination coast down naturally.
The vehicle safely loses momentum without wheel lockup or skid initiation.
Braking hard on a blown tire can cause the wheel to lock, pull violently, or trigger a jackknife.
4
Check mirrors, gently steer onto the shoulder once speed has dropped substantially, and apply light braking to complete the stop.
The vehicle is safely positioned off the active roadway.
Moving off the travel lane prevents secondary collisions with surrounding highway traffic.

Key Concept

Emergency response to tire failure: steering control, brake avoidance, and natural coast-down
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Tire Failure and Blowouts

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