What should you do immediately after experiencing a tire blowout?

Immediately after experiencing a tire blowout, it is crucial to hold the steering wheel tightly and keep the vehicle straight. This response is essential for maintaining control of the vehicle, as a blowout can cause the vehicle to swerve unexpectedly. By keeping a firm grip on the steering wheel and steering straight, you reduce the risk of losing control and potentially crashing.

Maintaining a straight path allows you to better manage the situation while the vehicle naturally slows down as the momentum decreases. This reaction helps prevent panic, which is common in such situations, and allows you to make informed decisions afterward, such as safely pulling over to the side of the road once you have regained control.

The other options, while they may seem like plausible actions in the moment, do not prioritize maintaining control during a critical situation. For instance, accelerating is counterintuitive and could worsen the loss of control, while abruptly pulling off to the side without braking may cause an even more dangerous situation. Turning on hazard lights is useful for alerting other drivers, but it should follow the immediate action of regaining control of the vehicle.