What should you do if your vehicle begins to skid?

When your vehicle begins to skid, the most effective response is to steer into the skid while staying off the brakes. This technique helps you regain control of the vehicle. When skidding, the tires lose grip on the road surface, and applying the brakes can worsen the situation by locking the wheels and causing further loss of control. Steering into the skid means that if the rear of the vehicle is sliding to the right, you should turn the steering wheel to the right. This action helps realign the vehicle’s front wheels with the direction you wish to go, allowing the tires to regain traction.

Maintaining control while steering into the skid can also enable you to recover from lost control more effectively, stabilizing the car and preventing a spin. Anyone encountering a skid situation should focus on calming their reactions and managing the steering inputs appropriately, rather than making abrupt movements that could worsen the skid.

While it may seem instinctual to brake hard, this response is counterproductive in a skid situation. Similarly, turning off the engine or accelerating are both poor strategies as they do not aid in regaining control and can exacerbate the loss of traction. Understanding and practicing how to handle skids is essential for safe driving, especially in adverse weather conditions.