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LET’S STOP “SKIDDING” OURSELVES!
One of the most dangerous situations you’ll ever find yourself in is skidding on a wet or icy road. When your vehicle starts to skid, you have very little time to think about what to do and what not to do. Your response to a skidding situation should be automatic.
To help keep a skid from becoming a tragic collision, it’s a must to know what to do in advance.
IF A SKID HAPPENS…
Keep yourself under control. Drivers who cannot control themselves in an emergency will have more trouble responding to the situation. Keeping under control should be second nature to the professional driver.
Don’t slam on the brakes. This may lock the wheels, cause loss of traction, and actually increase the skid. Anti-Lock brakes may control the locking, but additional distance may be required to stop the vehicle.
Steer in the direction of the skid. For example, if the rear end of the vehicle is sliding to the left, turn your steering wheel to the left until the vehicle straightens out. As the vehicle straightens, turn the wheels back in the direction you want to go.
But, don’t oversteer. Turning the steering wheel too far whips the rear end into a skid in the opposite direction.
Keep the vehicle in gear. This helps reduce the speed and produce maximum control.
Don’t lift your foot fr
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