If a vehicle starts to skid, what should a driver do?

When a vehicle starts to skid, the recommended action is to steer in the direction the driver wants the front of the vehicle to go. This technique, often referred to as "steering into the skid," helps the driver regain control of the vehicle. In a skid, the vehicle is losing traction, and the front wheels may be pointing in a different direction than the rear wheels. By steering into the skid, the driver aligns the front wheels with the direction of movement, which can help to stabilize the vehicle and eventually regain traction.

This approach is rooted in controlling weight transfer and redistributing the vehicle's mass, allowing the tires to reconnect with the road surface more effectively. This action contrasts sharply with the other options that could exacerbate the situation or fail to regain control.

Braking hard or accelerating can worsen the skid by further destabilizing the vehicle's balance, while rapidly turning the steering wheel back and forth can lead to overcorrection and a potential loss of control. Therefore, steering toward the desired direction is the most effective response in a skidding situation.