If the rear tires of your vehicle start to skid, what should you do?

When the rear tires of your vehicle begin to skid, steering in the direction you want the vehicle to go is the proper reaction. This technique, often called “steering into the skid,” helps regain control over the vehicle. When the rear of the vehicle skids, it means that the back wheels have lost grip with the road, and turning in the direction you want to travel allows the front wheels to align with the path you intend to take.

For instance, if your rear tires skid to the right, you should steer right to counteract the skid. This action helps to transfer weight to the front tires, thereby allowing them to regain traction more effectively. Recovery from a skid is primarily about managing the direction of the vehicle, rather than making sudden changes, which can exacerbate the situation.

Other actions, like braking immediately or turning off the ignition, can result in a loss of control or engine response, worsening the skid and increasing the risk of an accident. Similarly, steering against the skid may cause further instability, as it does not align the vehicle with the direction of travel. Therefore, steering in the direction you want to go is crucial for stabilizing and regaining control during a rear tire skid.