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Difficulty: HardSkid Control and Recovery

A commercial straight truck is traveling across an unsalted concrete bridge during freezing drizzle when the drive wheels lose traction and the rear of the vehicle slides out toward the right shoulder. Which action must the driver take to regain directional control and recover from the skid?

  1. A
    Steer firmly to the left away from the sliding rear to keep the front wheels centered in the lane, while applying light service brakes.
  2. B
    Engage the auxiliary engine retarder to slow the drive axle and restore tire grip without locking the front steer tires.
  3. Steer to the right in the direction the rear wheels are sliding, stay off the brakes, and counter-steer to the left as the vehicle straightens.Answer
  4. D
    Apply firm, steady service brake pressure to scrub vehicle speed before the rear tires depart the travel lane entirely.

Answer

Steer to the right in the direction the rear wheels are sliding, stay off the brakes, and counter-steer to the left as the vehicle straightens.
To recover from a drive-wheel skid, the driver must release the accelerator and stay off the brakes so the tires can roll and regain traction. The driver must quickly turn the steering wheel in the direction the rear of the vehicle is sliding (to the right in this scenario), and then immediately counter-steer in the opposite direction as the vehicle begins to straighten to avoid a secondary skid.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the type and direction of the skid
The vehicle is experiencing a drive-wheel (rear-wheel) skid with the rear sliding to the right.
Correct recovery inputs depend entirely on recognizing which axle has lost traction and the direction of lateral movement.
2
Avoid service braking and disengage any auxiliary retarders
The drive wheels are permitted to roll freely rather than remaining locked or slowed by braking torque.
A sliding wheel has minimal lateral grip; tires must be rolling freely to generate the friction necessary for steering control.
3
Turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid (to the right)
The front wheels align with the vehicle's momentum and arrest the outward swing of the rear axle.
Steering into the direction of the skid stops the rear end from continuing to pivot outward.
4
Counter-steer back to the left as the vehicle aligns
The vehicle recovers a straight heading down the lane without whipping sideways.
Failing to counter-steer immediately as the vehicle straightens causes an overcorrection skid in the opposite direction.

Key Concept

Drive-wheel skid recovery through rolling traction, steering into the skid, and timely counter-steering
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Skid Control and Recovery

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