ALT-1 How to Steer into a Skid
You hear all sorts of advice about what to do in a skid. The truth is, until you’ve actually practiced what you will do, chances are you will do the wrong thing when the time comes.
On your driving test, most likely you are told to steer in the opposite direction of the skid but the fact is, it depends on what causes the skid. Here, this guide will go through some examples and what to do.
If, for example, you are going too fast into a curve and don’t realize it until it’s too late and you are about to start skidding off to the outside of the curve, you have a choice. If you feel you still have time to slow down, then do so. If you realize there is no way out, it’s time to counter the centrifugal force with a forward force. Sometimes, you can save your life by laying down on the accelerator, forcing forward harder than the force off to the side.
Another example is skids when you have applied your brakes hard and discovered, the hard way, your brakes are out of adjustment, causing a hard skid off to one side. As hard as this is to make yourself do, you absolutely have to let up on the brakes and then re-brake. You have a better chance of getting stopped than if you simply press harder on the brake pedal.
Now for the scary skid - theskid on ice. You should prevent it but should you hit a slick spot and your car begins to skid off into a circle, your best bet is to turn into the skid, going along with the direction, until you can gain control. Your natural reaction will be to turn against the skid, hoping to correct the direction the car is going. On ice, most times, all that does is cause you to lose all control as your tires begin to slide sideways. Your tires need to be lined up with the direction of the car, in order for you to gain control. Attempt to simply do a complete circle, heading back into the direction you were originally going. At the same time, try to remember not to touch the brakes and not to accelerate. Simply let up on both pedals until you feel control again.
Sometimes, there is absolutely nothing you can do to choose the direction your car is sliding. In that event, anything you might try to do will only make is worse. Nobody has to tell you, you already know it’s a lost game.
Do remember, that if your tires are not lined up in the direction the car is moving, you cannot regain control. In a simple skid, for example in the rain, all you have to do to regain control is to let up on the accelerator. At the same time, this is the time to turn against the skid in attempt to correct the direction.
