“If tire blows, don’t mash brakes,” says driver

The feeling of panic associated with a high speed blowout is something that no driver would care to experience twice, but there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of surviving, including making sure that everyone buckles their seat belt and the tires are in good shape. But sometimes even tires that look new can disintegrate without warning. Arreini Palacio spoke to veteran bus driver Nadir Leal for some tips on how to cope.

Nadir Leal, Novelo’s Bus Driver

“Well you should always take a lot of precaution. You should always be driving with that in your mind because you don’t know when you will have a blow out. It could either be a radial or a nylon tire. So we always have to have that precaution so always drive with that in mind that if a tire blows out from you, you know what measures to take. Sometimes we are on a high speed and that does not give us enough time to think but as a driver experienced you should always have that in your mind. So first thing you need to do is take control of the steering not pat your brakes for nothing, just let the bus take you along until you get control, so it doesn’t get off the road.

Well you know accidents, can’t be stop that any way. Sometimes can’t help that but the precaution as I tell you be careful how you drive and always be alert of other vehicles coming your way. You know sometimes you have other vehicles coming, zig zagging and you don’t know the condition the other driver is in and it might not be your fault but it might be the other vehicle toward you.”

There are no indications that the tires on the Jex Bus showed any signs of abnormal wear.