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Question

Difficulty: MediumDriving in Adverse Weather and Low Visibility

You are driving on a slippery road during adverse weather when your rear tires lose traction and the back end of your vehicle begins sliding to the side. What is the correct sequence of steps to safely regain control of your vehicle?

  1. 1Ease your foot smoothly off the accelerator without pressing the brake pedal.
  2. 2Turn the steering wheel smoothly in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.
  3. 3Steer gently back toward the center of your lane as the rear end stops sliding.
  4. 4Maintain focus on your intended path of travel until full traction and directional stability are restored.

Answer

The correct sequence begins by easing off the accelerator without braking, steering smoothly in the intended direction of travel, counter-steering gently as the vehicle straightens out, and maintaining visual focus down the road until full control is restored.
When experiencing a rear-wheel skid on a slippery road, the initial priority is restoring tire traction without destabilizing the chassis. Smoothly easing off the accelerator prevents additional torque overload while avoiding panic braking. Steering into the skid aligns front tire rotation with the vehicle path, while counter-steering neutralizes secondary momentum as directional control returns.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Release pressure from the gas pedal while avoiding the brakes.
Engine power decreases smoothly without locking the wheels or transferring weight abruptly.
Sudden braking transfers weight forward and locks tires, exacerbating the rear-wheel traction loss.
2
Steer toward your intended direction of travel (into the skid).
The front tires align with the trajectory of the sliding vehicle.
Proper alignment restores directional control and reduces momentum perpendicular to your lane.
3
Perform a gentle counter-steer as the vehicle begins to straighten.
The vehicle avoids fishtailing or secondary skidding in the opposite direction.
Failing to straighten the wheel as momentum shifts can trigger a second, harder skid.
4
Look down the intended path and stabilize your speed.
Traction is completely re-established with the road surface.
Maintaining visual target control helps smooth out fine steering inputs.

Key Concept

Rear-Wheel Skid Recovery Procedure
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Topics

Driving in Adverse Weather and Low Visibility

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