What should you do first if you experience a tire blowout while driving?

The correct procedure when experiencing a tire blowout is to ease off the gas gradually. This action allows you to maintain better control of the vehicle instead of abrupt maneuvers that can lead to losing control. By gently releasing the accelerator, the vehicle will slow down on its own, which helps prevent skidding or further destabilizing the vehicle during a very stressful situation.

While other options might seem relevant, they can lead to dangerous outcomes. For instance, hitting the brakes hard can cause your vehicle to skid, especially if the blowout occurs on a front tire. Turning on your hazard lights is useful for alerting other drivers, but it does not address the immediate need to maintain vehicle control. Steering aggressively could also result in a loss of control, which is particularly risky when dealing with a tire blowout. Thus, easing off the gas is the safest and most effective first step to take in such a scenario.