Skidding

 One of the scariest experiences a new driver can have is a skidding car. While there is no real way to show how to manoeuvre a car when actually skidding during a driving lesson, as this would be dangerous to simulate, there are a few tips on what you can do if their car begins to skid.

There are two main types of skidding: over-steering (fishtailing), and under-steering (plowing).

 1) Over-steering occurs when, upon turning your car, the front wheels begin to turn but the back wheels spin out to the outside of the curve, causing the rear of the car to fishtail, or slide from side to side. If this should happen, let off the gas and keep your foot off the brake. If you already have your foot on the brake, let up slowly. If you are driving a car with manual transmission, disengage the clutch. Then quickly steer the car into the direction you want to go. This is known as “steering into the direction of the skid”. As your car begins to head in the correct direction, counter-steer to ensure your car stays on the intended path.

 2) Under-steering, or plowing, occurs when your car doesn’t turn as tightly as you want it to. Typically this happens when the road is wet or you’re travelling too fast, minimizing the amount of traction between the tyres and the road. The tyres cannot grip the road as well, causing the car to make a much wider turn than it should have.  

Another type of car skidding is hydroplaning. Hydroplaning occurs when a car hits a puddle of water, or when it is raining or snowing. Any form of moisture on the ground can cause a tire to lift up off the pavement slightly, allowing water to get under the tyre. Once this happens, you will briefly lose steering ability because your tyres are unable to get any traction with the road.

You’ll know your car is beginning to hydroplane when your rpm gauge suddenly revs up a bit, and your tyres, depending on front or rear wheel drive, will start to slide out just a little. Once your tyres regain traction with the road, you’ll notice a small jerk in the direction you’re heading. If this happens, don’t worry, as it happens frequently with no harm done.

Awareness of the danger signs is one of the biggest lessons a new driver can learn.

Losing control of your car is a scary experience. Hitting the brakes or turning the wheel and not having the car respond as it should makes you feel helpless. But, simply hoping that your car will never skid is not the answer to feeling more in control.

Understanding what makes your car skid and learning how to prevent it are the first steps.

Step 1: Understanding the Skid

A skid occurs when either your front wheels or your rear wheels lose traction. Instead of gripping the road, your tyres are sliding across the ground. Thus, applying the brakes or turning the wheel does not have the desired effect. Remember, if the tyres can’t grip the ground, it’s like trying to drive on blocks of ice.

Front wheel traction loss 

“Under steer” occurs when your front wheels lose traction while cornering. This means that your car travels a wider curve than your intended path of travel. Your car is sliding away from the centre of the curve and possibly into oncoming traffic. This is usually the result of taking the turn too fast for the road conditions.

For example: As you make a fast right turn, the weight of the car shifts toward the left side of your front tyres. If turning too fast, weight moves to the sidewalls of the tyres. At this point, they no longer provide any gripping or turning force. Basically, the tyres are turned to the right, but the force of your rear tyres pushes your car in a straight line away from the curve of the turn.

Rear wheel traction loss 

“Over steer” occurs when your rear wheels lose traction while cornering. Your front end will point either to the left or to the right of the intended path of travel despite your steering input. Over steer is how a car “spins out”. Typically, this happens on slippery surfaces when driving too fast or braking or steering erratically. 

Step 2: Learning what to do 

Note: The process for recovering from a skid is exactly the same whether you have a rear-wheel or front-wheel drive vehicle. 

Take your feet off the pedals 

The first thing to do whenever you feel your car beginning to lose traction is to get your foot off the accelerator. If your foot happens to be on the brake, get your foot off it, too! Your accelerator is probably what got you into this situation in the first place and your brakes are useless right now.

You want the car to slow down and recover some traction so that you can regain steering control. Applying the brakes to tyres which are sliding across the road isn’t going to do anything. Unless your tyres are gripping the road, your brakes are useless. Your skidding tyres will slow your car down until your tyres can regain some traction.

Gentle steering input 

Always steer in the direction you want the car to go. When the car starts skidding, look directly at where they want to go. Do not look at what you want to avoid. Your hands will follow your eyes, so if you stare at the tree on the side of the road, that’s where you’re going to end up.

The correct direction to steer is inevitably in the opposite direction that your front end is headed. Okay, now that you know which direction to steer, make sure that your steer gently! Most skids become worse when the driver severely over-corrects…or slams on the brakes…or does both wildly while screaming.

Slight re-distribution of vehicle weight

As you begin to regain traction and steering control, you may find it necessary to gently apply the brakes or the accelerator. This depends on whether or not you’re experiencing rear-wheel traction loss or front wheel traction loss. The point of gently braking or accelerating is to redistribute some of the car’s weight to those wheels, which will help them gain even more traction. So, if your front wheels are skidding, you’ll want to brake gently. If your rear wheels are skidding, you’ll want to gently accelerate. 

To summarize, when you car begins to skid:

1) Get your foot off the accelerator and the brake.

2) Steer gently in the direction you want the car to go. 

As you begin to regain control of the car, gently apply the brakes (assuming you have anti-lock brakes) or the accelerator depending on the type of skid. This will help redistribute the weight of the car to the appropriate wheels, which will help regain some traction.

Driving in snow, rain, or fog doesn’t require any “special” driving skills. It simply requires that you:

1. Recognize that you are, in fact, driving in poor conditions and that you must adjust your driving behavior accordingly.
2. Recognize that most of the other drivers on the road do NOT adjust their driving behaviour in hazardous conditions.

When driving in hazardous conditions, remember to:

Slow down

Increase your following distance 

And be prepared for drivers around you to do something irrational (more often than in optimal conditions) 

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