What should you do if your vehicle starts to skid?

When a vehicle starts to skid, the correct response is to steer in the direction of the skid. This technique helps to regain control of the vehicle. In a skid, the rear wheels lose traction while the front wheels maintain control, causing the back end of the vehicle to slide. By steering into the skid, you align the wheels with the direction the vehicle is going, allowing the tires to reestablish grip on the road surface. This action helps to stabilize the vehicle and prevent further loss of control.

The other options are less effective in this situation. Accelerating can worsen the skid by increasing speed, making it even more difficult to regain control. Braking hard is not advisable during a skid, as it can cause the vehicle to lose even more traction and slide further out of control. Turning off the engine does not assist in regaining traction or control; instead, maintaining the engine’s power can aid in steering stability. Therefore, steering into the direction of the skid is the safest and most effective response to regain control.