What should you do if your vehicle starts to skid?

When your vehicle starts to skid, the correct action is to steer into the direction of the skid. This technique helps you to regain control of the vehicle by aligning the front wheels with the direction of travel. For example, if your rear wheels are sliding to the right, you should turn your steering wheel to the right. This motion allows the vehicle to regain traction and can help prevent a complete loss of control.

Maintaining control during a skid is crucial for your safety and those around you. Steering into the skid essentially counteracts the slide, giving the vehicle a chance to correct itself and travel straight. This technique is a fundamental part of defensive driving, where anticipation and proper reaction to sudden changes in vehicle dynamics are essential.

The other actions listed could lead to worsened loss of control. Accelerating might cause the vehicle to slide further, braking hard can lock the wheels and make it difficult to steer, and turning the wheel away from the skid could lead to overcorrection, which may cause the vehicle to spin out in the opposite direction.