How to Steer & Drive While Skidding

Learning how to recover from a skid is important.

Every driver will probably go into a skid at least once during their lifetime of operating a vehicle. Just because your car goes into a skid however, doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to have an accident. It is important that you know how to regain control of your car when it does start to skid so that you can pull out of it without any damage to you or your car. With a rear-wheel-drive car, you are more likely to experience a rear-wheel skid--and you will notice it much more quickly--than the front-wheel skid which occurs more often in a front-wheel-drive car.

Instructions

Rear Wheel Skid (over-steer)

1. Stay calm and do not panic. Remove your foot from the accelerator and do not brake. The car will begin to slow down.

2. Turn the steering wheel into the direction of the skid. If the skid is to the left, turn the steering wheel to the left.

3. Turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction if the car begins to skid in the other direction.

Front Wheel Skid (under-steer)

1. Remove your foot from the accelerator. Do not turn the wheels any further as it will worsen the skid.

2. Bring the steering wheel back so that the wheels are going straight.

3. Turn the wheel again in the direction that you need to go after you have regained traction.

Tips & Warnings

• It's important to learn how to control a skid before it occurs.

• Most skids occur because you are driving too fast for the current conditions.

• Never accelerate during a skid and don't use the brakes.

References

• Maryland MVA -- Driver's Handbook
• Youtube: Controlling a skid.