Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
"Even if you have an emergency, it's never a good idea to stop on the highway," points out David Marcille, Montreal spokesperson for CAA-Quebec. "It's way too dangerous...It's pretty scary to have all these cars coming 100 kilometres per hour fast next to you."
Early Thursday morning, a man in his 30s was killed after pulling over to change a flat tire on the Gédéon-Ouimet Bridge, which links Laval to Boisbriand north of Montreal.
"A pick-up truck hit him before leaving the scene," said Elizabeth Marquis-Guy, a spokesperson with the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
CAA-Quebec explains it's actually illegal for an individual to stop on a highway.
So, what should you do if you find yourself with a flat?
According to CAA-Quebec, anyone who gets a flat on a highway should always try to drive until the next exit.
"If you can't make it because your flat is too big or whatever reason, the best is to go the furthest possible to the shoulder on the right as far as you can from the traffic," said Marcille. "Do not step out of your car."
He points out that people should:
- Turn on their hazard lights;
- dial 911;
- and wait for an emergency vehicle.
"[If] you still consider this situation to be too dangerous, you can get out of your vehicle using the passenger door to walk away as far as possible to really get far from the traffic," he said.
Marcille notes people can also remotely open the hood of their car to alert people to their situation.
"When you have an emergency situation on the highway, sometimes you have to make tough decisions," said Marcille. "For instance, do I keep driving, damaging even more my tires? The answer is yes."
Marcille points out that the most common causes of serious collisions are distracted driving and speeding.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada to launch 'national action plan' to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Michael Cohen says he stole from Trump's company as defence presses key hush money trial witness
Former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen admitted Monday to jurors in the Republican's hush money trial that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company as defence lawyers seized on the star witness' misdeeds to attack his credibility.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Investors watching posts from 'Crypto King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Jury finds Andrei Donet guilty of second-degree murder in stabbing death of Montreal teen
A jury has found a 21-year-old man guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Montreal teenager Jannai Dopwell-Bailey outside his school in 2021.