What should you do if your vehicle starts to skid?

When your vehicle starts to skid, the most effective response is to steer in the direction you want to go. This action helps to realign the vehicle's tires with the direction of travel and allows the vehicle to regain traction. Steering into the skid helps prevent further loss of control, as it encourages the rear wheels to stop sliding and lets the car straighten out.

In a skid, the vehicle typically loses traction due to factors like wet or icy roads. By directing the steering in the desired path, you are guiding the vehicle back to stability. This technique is vital for navigating out of a skid safely, thereby reducing the risk of an accident.

The notion of turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction can actually exacerbate the problem, while hard braking can worsen skidding by further locking the wheels, leading to complete loss of control. Accelerating in a skid may temporarily increase speed but does not promote control or safety. Hence, steering toward your desired direction is the most crucial and effective action to take during a skid.