Recovering when your wheels are skidding off the pavement

[lostnfound]

"Don't panic and don't touch the brake pedal. Take your foot off the gas, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and steer the vehicle in the direction of the skid. Steer so that your car straddles the pavement's edge. Then turn the steering wheel until the right front tire is on the pavement's edge and countersteer as necessary to steer straight down the roadway. DO NOT increase the angle of steering..until you are able to bring the car under control."

In America, we drive on the right side of the road. The wheels are off the pavement, at a 100 mph. We don't yet have the new driver in the driver's seat, but when he gets behind the wheel, the best way for him to get the car in the left lane is NOT to do an immediate hard left. An immediate hard left might feel just fine for those front wheels, but the rear wheels will go careening off the cliff and will take the whole car with them.

Two seconds after you get the vehicle back on the roadway, dear driver, do NOT miss the chance to take advantage of the crisis to implement deliberate, rapid change. But as we seem to be careening off the edge, we understand that your first priority is to regain control of the vehicle.

[Why Syzygy]

1. It wouldn't hurt to purchase new tires

and possibly take another road either.

[Winnipegosis]

2. Right on.

I tried to explain this to my sister once, but it didn't make sense to her.

Skidding--take foot off gas, steer in direction you want to go to.

Proper tires are also a must for maximum effectiveness.

[ConsAreLiars]

5. Actually, that was bad advice. No wonder it made no sense.

First turn the wheels in the direction of travel, even if it is not where you want to go. This gets the steering wheels ahead of the back ones, instead of uselessly sliding sideways, and makes it again possible to use them to lead. Then correct the direction of travel. There's an analogy here, as well as some advice on how you and your sister might control a skidding car. At a minimum, learn this: Once in a skid, DO NOT immediately jerk the wheels in the direction you would rather be going.

[Winnipegosis]

6. Nope, it's good advice.

"Once in a skid, DO NOT immediately jerk the wheels in the direction you would rather be going."

No kidding!

Again: if you go into a skid, you turn in the direction you want to go.

Now if you are out of control, you are mostly helpless until such time as you can regain control.

Here in Winnipeg, you learn to drive on ice through experience, believe me.

[ConsAreLiars]

7. What nonsense

The point, of course, is to regain control. That is accomplished by first turning the steering wheels in the direction of travel and then correcting, not immediately turning them in the direction you fantasize, as you suggest. Get yourself a warning sticker - "Don't ride with me in wet or icy conditions."

[Winnipegosis]

14. What fantasy world are you inhabiting?

"Don't ride with me in wet or icy conditions."

You should be so lucky as to have me in the driver's seat if you're ever a passenger in such a vehicle.

Driving the streets of Winnipeg, and the Manitoba highways in winter can be very dicey. I have been in exactly 0, zero, nada,.... accidents while at the wheel.

Knock on wood.

[newfie11]

9. I agree

Having lived in Northern Michigan and South Dakota I have driven in many a skid and you are right on.

"if you go into a skid, you turn in the direction you want to go."

[tama]

3. A horse!

Kingdom for a horse!

[ashling]

4. In your case, I suggest the following rubric:

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.

And I'm not even Catholic
:rofl:

[WePurrsevere]

8. Interesting analogy and I agree...

gaining control of the "car" should be of primary importance.

[Fumesucker]

10. It depends to some extent whether your car is front or rear wheel drive..

Your advice is more or less correct for rear wheel drive, taking your foot off the gas in a front wheel drive car though increases the skid.

[RC]

11. Taking your foot off the gas when skidding in a front wheel drive car will

only make things worse. You could be suddenly looking at where you are coming from, not where you are going.

[rucky]

12. What do you do if you're being chased by a bear?

market

[ThomWV]

13. In case you haven't noticed we just bought a brand new car with anti-skid brakes

With today's anti-skid brakes, drive-wheel traction-control devices, lighter more nimble cars, and keenly aware drivers there is a lot less skidding to be done these days. So bring on the abrupt maneuvers, they are necessary to save us from driving off the cliff.