Everyone experiences a flat tire in their lives.  Not everyone experiences a blowout on the freeway.  Our tires take a lot of beating and sometimes they will fail.  There are steps that every driver can take to prevent a blowout, but sometimes it happens.  Riding over something on the road that you may not have notices or a defective tire can result in a blowout while you are driving. One major cause of tire blowout is low air pressure in tires. Every driver has the responsibility to monitor their tire pressure to avoid these types of accidents. In newer cars, they have an automatic warning letting you know that your tire pressure is too low. If you don't have a warning light, you can check your tire pressure manually with an air pressure gauge.  This is a small pen-like device that you insert on the tire called the valve stem.  The correct amount of pressure for your tire is normally listed on the side of the tire. Keeping your tire pressure at its recommended level also saves you gas which with the way rates are going should make your pocket book very healthy. Old tires also contribute to blowouts.  Most tires are good up to around 35,000 miles so if you have driven further than that amount on the same tires, it would be a good idea to get a new set. Also, it is always a good idea to get your tires rotated because they can wear unevenly. What do you do when you experience a blowsout? According to the National Safety Council, there are a few steps that can be taken to promote safety after a driver experiences a blowout on a road or highway.  One thing you don't want to do is slam on the brakes.  Slowly take your foot off the gas and slowly coast to the shoulder or side of the road.   When your tire blows, put on your emergency lights so the drivers behind you are aware that there is a problem and will slow down. Always make sure your spare has air in it.  Most people don't check their spare and when there is a blowout, they don't have a decent tire to replace it.  Also, spare tires have a very short life span so get a new tire as soon as possible.