What should you do if your vehicle starts to skid?

When a vehicle starts to skid, the best course of action is to steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go. This technique is known as "steering into the skid." By doing this, you can help regain control of the vehicle and reduce the likelihood of it spinning out.

In a skid, the tires lose traction, and steering in the direction of the skid allows you to align the wheels with the direction of travel, which helps in regaining traction. It's important to remain calm and not overcorrect, as this can worsen the situation.

In contrast, other actions—such as applying the brakes firmly—can lead to further loss of control because hard braking can lock the wheels and exacerbate the skid. Accelerating in a skid may also worsen the loss of traction. Steering in the opposite direction can lead to confusion and potentially cause the vehicle to rotate further out of control. Understanding this response technique is crucial for safe vehicle handling in slippery conditions.