Risk Management Magazine

It was another wet, dreary day in southwest Oklahoma. We’d been dealing with rain for a week and the roads were flooded. Driving to work was a significant event, as vehicle accidents were occurring all over the place due to standing water.

Millions of motorists take to the road every day, but most don't realize the pivotal role that driver's training and thorough safety inspections play in averting catastrophic tire blowouts and safeguarding lives. Join me on a journey as I recount a harrowing incident on a scorching summer afternoon, where swift action and preparedness prevented a potentially fatal rollover.

It was a typical day in Tennessee — nice weather, beautiful scenery and plenty of fun things to do. I was in high school and, like many people throughout the country, raced all-terrain vehicles during my free time. I’d never taken an official safety course, but my father did a good job giving me instruction on proper riding techniques.