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Question

Difficulty: MediumSkid Control and Recovery

You are operating a commercial motor vehicle on a frosty highway when sudden acceleration on an upgrade causes the drive wheels to spin and slide toward the right shoulder. What is the correct sequential order of actions to successfully control and recover from this drive-wheel skid?

  1. 1Release the accelerator pedal completely to remove drive torque and allow the drive wheels to stop spinning.
  2. 2Turn the steering wheel to the right in the direction the rear of the vehicle is sliding.
  3. 3Counter-steer back to the left as the vehicle straightens to prevent overshooting into a secondary skid.
  4. 4Apply gentle, smooth throttle only after directional stability and tire traction are fully restored.

Answer

The driver must first release the accelerator to stop wheel spin, steer in the direction of the slide (to the right), counter-steer as the vehicle aligns to prevent a secondary skid, and finally reintroduce gentle throttle once stability is fully restored.
To recover from a drive-wheel acceleration skid, removing drive torque by releasing the accelerator is the vital first step so the tires regain rolling grip. The driver must then quickly steer in the direction of the rear slide, immediately counter-steer as the vehicle aligns to prevent snapping into a secondary skid, and only reapply gentle throttle once the vehicle is completely stable.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Release the accelerator pedal immediately.
The drive wheels stop spinning and resume rolling contact with the roadway.
Spinning tires lose lateral cornering grip; allowing the wheels to roll freely restores side-to-side friction.
2
Turn the steering wheel quickly in the direction of the skid (to the right).
The front wheels guide the vehicle in line with the sliding rear axle.
Directing the front wheels into the skid path arrests vehicle yaw and stops the jackknife or spinout angle from widening.
3
Counter-steer back to the left as the vehicle begins to straighten.
The vehicle stabilizes on its intended travel path without whipping across center.
Failing to counter-steer immediately as the vehicle straightens causes momentum to swing the rear in the opposite direction.
4
Reintroduce smooth, gradual throttle once the vehicle is aligned and stabilized.
Safe forward travel continues without triggering another traction loss.
Throttle application must wait until the tires have full rolling grip and the vehicle is completely straight.

Key Concept

Drive-wheel acceleration skid recovery procedure: throttle release, steering into the skid, proactive counter-steering, and smooth re-engagement.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Skid Control and Recovery

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