Flat Tire on Highway 401? What You Should Do
· Mississauga
A flat tire at highway speed is frightening, and the shoulder of the 401 is one of the most dangerous places to be stopped. Here is how to handle it safely — and why highway breakdowns work differently from a flat in a parking lot.
First: get the car under control
Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the gas and do not brake hard. Let the car slow down gradually, signal, and move to the right shoulder — or better, take the next exit if you can do so safely at low speed.
Do not change a tire next to live highway traffic
Even with hazards on, traffic passes the shoulder at highway speed. If you are stopped on the 401, 403, 407, 410 or QEW, stay buckled in with your hazards on unless the car is in danger, in which case get out on the side away from traffic and stand well behind a barrier.
Who to call on an Ontario highway
Ontario's 400-series highways and the QEW are covered by OPP-contracted tow operators. Call *OPP (*677) on your mobile, or 911 if anyone is hurt or you are in a dangerous spot. They will send an authorised tow truck.
For this reason RoadLift does not dispatch to highways — the app will tell you if your pin is on one.
Once you are off the highway
If you made it to an exit, a side street, a gas station or a parking lot, you can request flat-tire assistance in the RoadLift app. A driver installs your spare where you are. No usable spare? Request a tow to a tire shop instead.