While negotiating a turn on a wet road, the rear of your car loses grip and begins to slide to the left. In what sequence should you carry out the following actions to safely correct the skid and resume driving?
- 1Release the accelerator pedal smoothly without touching the footbrake.
- 2Turn the steering wheel smoothly to the left into the direction of the skid.
- 3Centralise and straighten the steering as the vehicle straightens up.
- 4Apply gentle, progressive acceleration once the vehicle has fully stabilised.
Answer
The correct sequence is to release the accelerator pedal smoothly without braking, turn the steering wheel to the left into the direction of the skid, centralise the steering wheel as the vehicle straightens, and finally apply gentle acceleration once the vehicle is fully stabilised.
When the rear of a vehicle slides to the left, the driver must first release the accelerator to reduce rotational force and help the tyres regain grip without inducing wheel lockup from braking. The driver must then steer into the direction of the slide (to the left) to align the front wheels with the slide. As the vehicle begins to straighten, the steering must be centralised promptly to prevent a secondary slide in the opposite direction, after which gentle power may be restored.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Correcting a rear-wheel skid through smooth pedal and steering control
Estimated Time:45s