Driving Into A Skid

[Tilly2]

Can you just tell me the answer to this, please? If I am driving along on ice and front of my car veers towards the pavement/ lampost, do I turn the wheel towards the pavement as well, ie anti-clock wise?

I know that my instinctive reaction would be to turn the wheel clockwise to try to prevent hitting the lamp post.


I have looked at Youtube but still don't get it.

[Old_Geezer]

You steer away as is instinctive to do.

[Tilly2]

So what's all this driving into a skid then, OG?

[237SJ]

I was always under the impression that you should steer into a skid otherwise you can get into a spin (happened to me in snow on Exmoor and I ended up in the hedge because I steered away from it) I suppose it depends how far away any possible object such as a lamp post is.

[Toorak]

My understanding is that you steer in the opposite direction to the direction of the back wheels - so if you are skidding to the left the back wheels will be skidding to the right / anti-clockwise and you would steer clockwise. I could be wrong though!

[EcclesCake]

Every driving course I have been on I've been told to steer into the skid.

[furrypusscat]

Follow this advice.

https://www.axa.co.uk/insurance/personal/car/advice-news/controlling-your-car-when-skidding/

[fiction-factory]

Steer into the skid has always been the advice, but I too have never been sure what that means

[Old_Geezer]

Well it was what I was told and works for me. Surely if you steer the way the car is going there is a risk of encouraging the spin ?

I think, maybe, you might try the other way if you have a lot of room, when the idea might be to try to point the car the way it is going and regain grip. But one doesn't usually have that amount of room on the road. You'd surely be into the lamppost before regaining control, wouldn't you ?

[Tilly2]

I have read the axa advice, FPC. Thank you for that.

The trouble is, how does one remember what to do? How do I know if it's the front wheels or the back wheels that are skidding?

[TWR]

Tilly, if I can, steer the opp way to the skid, an indication of ice a very light steering, lighter than normal, if your screen is iced up so will the road, a kerb can at times help to stop the car but that depends on your speed, try and use the Handbrake in slowing you down, do not pull it straight up but gradual, in snow use a higher gear for traction, a front wheel drive will grip the road, a rear wheel drive normally skids depending on the driver, my own car is rear wheel but has never given me trouble as I control my revs & that's what's it all about, "REVS" I hope this little bit of advise may help you without sounding clever.

[Tilly2]

Is my car a front wheel drive, TWR? It's a Vauxhall Meriva.

[TWR]

Better for snow but the same as any other car in Ice, but that depends on your "Right Foot"

[TWR]

Should have said YES.

[Tilly2]

Thanks to all. As you may be able to tell, I hate driving!

[chrissa1]

If your back end is skidding to the right then turning into the direction the back end is going, should straighten you up.

Many years ago I found myself sliding to the right, down a slight hill with a narrow bridge at the bottom going up into a left hand curve. I turned “into” the skid and we straightened up beautifully and glided over the bridge and round the curve.

I was very proud of myself. Lol

[bhg481]

It just seems common sense to me to turn the wheels in the direction you want to travel. If the car is swinging so that's it's pointing towards the kerb you turn the steering towards the road.

[ToraToraTora]

you steer into oversteer skid ie the rear wheels coming round. If the front is slipping that's understeer, not much can be done, more lock will increase the skid. You can straighten up and hope for grip and then turn away.

[Davemano]

I don't agree with using the handbrake. You need both hands firmly on the steering wheel in an effort to maintain maximum control.

[237SJ]

When I got into a skid/spin the last thing I was thinking about was the handbrake.

[tonyav]

These new fangled electronic hand brakes only come on when the car is stationary.