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Difficulty: MediumSkid Control and Recovery

While negotiating an unpaved construction detour covered in loose gravel, a driver feels the rear drive wheels lose traction and swing outward to the left. Which action must the driver take first to safely recover control of the vehicle?

  1. A
    Engage the engine retarder to apply additional drivetrain drag to the slipping drive wheels.
  2. Release the accelerator and steer to the left toward the direction of the skid, then counter-steer as the vehicle straightens.Answer
  3. C
    Steer sharply to the right away from the skid while maintaining constant throttle to pull the vehicle forward.
  4. D
    Apply hard service braking immediately to lock all wheels and force the vehicle to slide in a straight line.

Answer

Release the accelerator and steer to the left toward the direction of the skid, then counter-steer as the vehicle straightens.
When recovering from a drive-wheel skid, the driver must stop accelerating, steer in the direction the rear of the vehicle is sliding (to the left in this scenario), and prepare to counter-steer as the vehicle comes back on course. This allows the tires to regain rolling traction without inducing secondary skids.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Stop accelerating immediately by taking your foot off the throttle.
Drive wheels stop spinning faster than road speed, allowing tire tread to begin regaining traction.
Excess drive torque on loose surfaces prevents tires from maintaining lateral stability.
2
Steer in the direction of the skid by turning the steering wheel left toward the path the rear is sliding.
Aligns the front wheels with the direction of the vehicle's slide to counteract the yaw rotation.
Turning into the skid brings the vehicle back into tracking alignment.
3
Counter-steer smoothly back in the opposite direction as the vehicle begins to straighten.
Prevents the vehicle from over-rotating and initiating a secondary skid in the opposite direction.
Failure to counter-steer immediately upon recovery leads to uncontrollable whipping or jackknifing.

Key Concept

Drive-wheel skid recovery requires stopping acceleration, steering into the direction of the skid, and executing a timely counter-steer without locking the brakes.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Skid Control and Recovery

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