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Difficulty: HardWinter Driving, Snow, and Black Ice

You are driving at 35 mph on a clear winter afternoon with an ambient temperature of 34°F (1∘C1^\circ\text{C}). As your vehicle rounds a shaded curve beneath a cliffside, you encounter an unexpected patch of black ice, causing the rear end of your vehicle to slide out toward the left side of the road. What is the correct immediate sequence of driver actions to regain control?

  1. Ease off the accelerator without stepping on the brake, and turn the steering wheel smoothly to the left in the direction of the rear skid.Answer
  2. B
    Steer sharply to the right away from the slide while accelerating gently to pull the front end forward.
  3. C
    Press down firmly on the brake pedal to bring the vehicle to an immediate stop before it enters the opposing lane.
  4. D
    Maintain a constant speed of 35 mph and hold the steering wheel straight, relying on the posted 40 mph speed limit for legal safety.

Answer

Ease off the accelerator without stepping on the brake pedal, and turn the steering wheel smoothly to the left in the direction the rear end of the vehicle is sliding.
When a vehicle experiences a rear-wheel skid (oversteer) on black ice, the driver must immediately release the accelerator to reduce momentum without braking, and steer in the direction the rear end is sliding (to the left). This allows the tires to regain rolling traction and realigns the vehicle with the road.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the direction of the vehicle skid.
The rear end of the vehicle is sliding to the left.
Correct skid recovery depends entirely on identifying which direction the vehicle's rear end is drifting.
2
Remove foot from the gas pedal without touching the brake pedal.
Engine momentum decreases gradually without locking the wheels.
Applying brakes during a active black ice skid eliminates lateral traction, while keeping foot on the accelerator prolongs wheelslip.
3
Steer smoothly into the direction of the skid (to the left).
The front tires align with the path of the sliding rear tires.
Turning the front wheels in the direction of the skid allows the tires to regain rolling friction and straightens the vehicle trajectory.

Key Concept

Skid Control and Black Ice Recovery Technique
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Winter Driving, Snow, and Black Ice

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