Why Do Cars Skid?

Reasons for Skidding

Drivers can skid for many reasons. Loss of tire traction and subsequent, sudden reduction of control can happen in an instant. Fast breaking, speeding and abrupt turning in hazardous weather conditions create a situation ripe for skidding. According to DMV.org, "The possible causes of your vehicle unexpectedly skidding or sliding while you're driving are varied, but it's often the result of a perilous road surface. Ice, snow, or standing water can transform asphalt into a waterslide. Even the slightest mist after a drought can mix with the oils in the road and send your tires groping for grip."

Reducing the Chances of a Skid

There are several steps a driver can take that will minimize the risk of dangerous skids. First, drive defensively in bad weather; leave enough room between yourself and the next car. Increase your following distance by several car lengths in wet weather, with six or more car lengths in snowy or icy weather.

When approaching turns, slow your car down before turning the wheel. Don't speed around a corner. Remember, the laws of physics dictate that a moving object accelerates in a turn, so take away some of that energy by using the brake pedal.

Last, don't drive in a panicked fashion if the weather is bad. Sudden stops and starts just create more opportunities for loss of traction. Keep going at a reasonable, careful pace, or pull over if the conditions are too dangerous. For very slow driving, turn on hazard lights for increased visibility to other drivers.

What to Do In a Skid

If your tires suddenly rebel and the car skids, don't panic and make any jerky moves with the steering wheel. Pumping the brake is also a bad idea. Instead, DMV.org instructs, "steer into the fishtail and remove your foot, slowly, from the accelerator. Some instructors might even tell you to push in the clutch. Thus, if your rear wheels bolt out to the left, turn the steering wheel smoothly to the left (but not drastically) and ease up from the gas pedal." What this does is slow the tire rotation down enough to regain traction, putting you back in control of the vehicle.

Avoid at all costs the impulse to steer away from the skid and gun the accelerator. All that will do is create enough force and motion to spin the car - and there's little chance of forcing the vehicle out of that.

Resources

• DMV.org: How to Control a Skid