What is what to do when your car skids on ice?

Here's what to do if your car skids on ice:

• Stay Calm: The most important thing is to remain calm. Panicking will only make the situation worse.

• Ease off the Pedals: Immediately take your foot off the accelerator and brake. Avoid making any sudden movements with the steering wheel or pedals. Abrupt actions can worsen the skid.

• Steer in the Direction of the Skid: This is counterintuitive, but crucial. If the rear of your car is sliding to the right, gently steer to the right. If it's sliding to the left, steer to the left. This is often called "steering into the skid." The goal is to straighten the car's trajectory. This process is also known as corrective steering.

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

• Gentle Braking (If Necessary): If you have Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), apply firm and steady pressure to the brake pedal. Do not pump the brakes. The ABS system will automatically modulate the braking to prevent wheel lockup. If you don't have ABS, gently pump the brakes to avoid locking the wheels. Locked wheels will only make the skid worse.

• Once Regained Control: Once you've regained control of the vehicle, gently straighten the wheel and continue driving at a reduced speed.

• Avoid Cruise Control: Never use cruise control on icy or snowy roads. Cruise control can maintain a constant speed, which can make it difficult to regain control if you start to skid.

• Consider Winter Tires: If you live in an area with frequent icy conditions, consider using winter tires. They provide significantly better grip on ice and snow than all-season tires.