What is what to do when your car skids?

Here's what to do when your car skids:

When your car skids, the most important thing is to remain calm and avoid overreacting. Here's a breakdown of the steps you should take:

• Identify the Skid: Determine which way your car is skidding. Is the rear end sliding out (oversteer) or is the front end losing grip (understeer)? Knowing this is crucial for the correct response.

• Ease off the Pedals: Immediately take your foot off the accelerator and the brake. Abrupt braking or acceleration will only worsen the skid.

• Steer in the Direction of the Skid: This is the most counterintuitive but most important step. If your rear end is sliding to the right, gently steer to the right. If it's sliding to the left, steer to the left. The goal is to steer towards the direction the car is losing control.

• Look Where You Want to Go: Focus your vision on where you want the car to go, not on the obstacle you're trying to avoid. Your hands will instinctively follow your eyes.

• Gentle Corrections: Once the car starts to regain traction, gently straighten the wheel. Avoid jerky movements, which can cause the car to skid again.

• Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS): If your car has ABS, maintain firm and constant pressure on the brake pedal. The ABS system will automatically pump the brakes to prevent wheel lockup. You might feel a pulsing sensation in the pedal – this is normal.

• No ABS: If your car doesn't have ABS, use threshold braking: apply firm pressure to the brake pedal until you feel the wheels start to lock up, then release slightly. Repeat this process to maintain control.

• After the Skid: Once you've regained control, proceed slowly and cautiously. Assess the situation and adjust your driving to the road conditions. Remember to increase your following distance and drive at a slower speed. If possible, pull over in a safe location to compose yourself.