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Difficulty: MediumSkidding Causes and Correction

You are driving a car without anti-lock brakes (ABS) on a slippery road when sudden braking causes all four wheels to lock, resulting in a straight-line skid. In what sequential order should you carry out the following actions to recover steering control and bring the vehicle safely to a halt?

  1. 1Release the footbrake completely to allow the locked wheels to rotate again.
  2. 2Align the steering wheel straight ahead to match the vehicle's direction of travel.
  3. 3Reapply gentle, progressive brake pressure to slow the vehicle without re-locking the tyres.
  4. 4Steer smoothly towards a safe stopping position once full steering control has returned.

Answer

The correct sequence is to first release the footbrake completely, align the steering wheel straight ahead, reapply gentle progressive braking, and finally steer smoothly towards a safe stopping position.
When harsh braking locks the wheels on a slippery road in a car without ABS, the driver must first release the brake pedal completely to allow the tyres to rotate again and restore grip. Straightening the wheels ensures the car does not spin when traction returns. After rolling grip is recovered, applying gentle progressive braking reduces speed, allowing the driver to smoothly steer to a safe halt.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Release the footbrake pedal completely.
The locked wheels begin turning and regain rolling contact with the road surface.
A sliding, locked tyre cannot generate cornering forces or directional control; rolling friction must be restored first.
2
Ensure the steering wheel is pointing straight in the direction of vehicle momentum.
The vehicle's chassis remains balanced and stable.
If the front wheels are turned sideways when grip suddenly returns, the car will pitch violently into a severe rotational skid.
3
Apply gentle, progressive or cadence braking without locking the wheels again.
The vehicle sheds speed in a stable, controlled manner.
Carefully modulating the brake pedal maximizes stopping power while keeping the tyres within their limit of adhesion.
4
Guide the car with calm steering inputs to a safe location.
The vehicle comes to a complete, secure stop.
Full steering authority is safely utilized once speed is under control.

Key Concept

Locked-wheel skid recovery and brake modulation in non-ABS vehicles
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Skidding Causes and Correction

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