Winter skids

A skid happens when wheels slide out of control on a slippery surface. Skids can involve the front, rear or all four wheels. Most skids result from driving too fast for road or traffic conditions. Sudden, hard braking, going too fast around a corner or accelerating too quickly can cause vehicles to skid or roll over.

To correct a skid, drivers should remain calm, look where they want the vehicle to go and steer towards that spot. Be careful not to over steer. For ice skids in a straight line, step on the clutch or shift to neutral.

Rear-wheel skids: 

1. The foot should be taken off the brake pedal, if hard braking causes the rear wheels to skid.
2. Ease off the gas pedal if the rear wheels lose traction.
3. Shift to neutral (automatic) or push in the clutch pedal (standard).
4. Look down the road in the direction the front of the vehicle should go, and be aware of the vehicle and how it is responding to steering.
5. Steer gently in the direction the vehicle should go.
6. Once the vehicle is straight, return to a driving gear (automatic).
7. Accelerate gently.
8. Drive at a safe speed.

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Front-wheel skids – caused by hard braking, acceleration or by driving too fast for the road conditions. Steering impossible when the front wheels lose traction.

1. Release the brake if the front wheels skid from hard braking.
2. Ease off the gas pedal if the front wheels lose traction.
3. Shift to neutral (automatic) or push in the clutch (standard)
4. Wait for the front wheels to grip the road again.
5. Select drive (automatic) or release the clutch (standard)
6. Accelerate gently
7. Drive at a safe speed.

Four-wheel skids – sometimes all four wheels lose traction – generally at high speeds or under poor road conditions.

1. Remove foot from the brake or accelerator.
2. Shift into neutral
3. Look and steer in the direction the front of the vehicle should go.
4. Wait for the wheels to grip the road again.
5. Return to a driving gear.
6. Drive at a safe speed.

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