If your vehicle starts to skid, what should you do?

When your vehicle starts to skid, it's crucial to steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go. This technique helps to regain control of the vehicle by aligning the wheels with the direction of travel, which can help the vehicle to regain traction and stability. By turning the steering wheel in the direction you wish to go, you allow the tires to grip the road surface more effectively and prevent overcorrection that could lead to further skidding or losing control.

Braking hard in a skid can lock the wheels, making it harder for the vehicle to regain traction and may worsen the skid. Turning the wheel sharply in the opposite direction, known as counter-steering, often leads to a loss of control rather than correcting the skid. Accelerating in an attempt to regain control is generally not effective and can increase the speed, further destabilizing the vehicle’s handling during a skid. Thus, the recommended action is to steer directionally to recover control of the vehicle safely.