What action should you take if your vehicle starts to skid?

When your vehicle starts to skid, the correct action is to steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go. This technique, known as "steering into the skid," allows you to regain control over the vehicle. By steering in the direction of the skid, you help align the vehicle's front wheels with the path of travel, which can reduce the chances of spinning out and allows the tires to regain traction on the road.

Using the other actions can exacerbate the loss of control. Immediately hitting the brakes hard can cause the wheels to lock up, making it difficult to steer and potentially leading to a more severe skid. Turning the steering wheel all the way to one side can cause overcorrection, which may result in fishtailing or further loss of control. Engaging the handbrake can lead to skidding, especially in vehicles without anti-lock braking systems, thereby increasing the instability of the vehicle during a skid. Therefore, steering in the desired direction is the most effective way to regain control.