What should you do if your vehicle starts to skid?

When your vehicle starts to skid, the most effective response is to steer gently in the direction you want the front of the car to go. This technique, known as "steering into the skid," helps to regain control of the vehicle. When skidding, the wheels lose traction, and steering gently allows the tires to regain grip as the vehicle aligns with the intended direction. This action helps to smooth out the motion and prevents further loss of control.

In contrast, applying the brakes hard can worsen the skid, as it might lock the wheels and prevent them from regaining traction. Accelerating in a skid is counterproductive as it increases speed in an already unstable situation, making recovery more difficult. Rapidly turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction can create a situation known as oversteering, leading to potential loss of control or a spin-out. Hence, gentle steering into the direction of travel is the correct approach to re-establish stability and control in a skidding scenario.