Driver Tips for Handling Skids

This is the time of year when your fleet drivers are more likely to deal with the unsettling issue of vehicle skidding.

Here are some tips offered in the Kentucky Driver Manual to help familiarize your drivers with techniques to regain control of their vehicle when a loss of traction occurs and the vehicle begins to skid. 

Top Skid Tips

If your vehicle begins to skid:

• Release the brake or accelerator. If you are skidding in a straight line and have to use the brakes, do not brake hard. This will only lock your wheels and make the skid worse. You should pump the brakes gently unless your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes, in which case you should apply steady pressure. Your brakes will work the best and stop you quicker if they are not locked up. 
• If you begin to skid sideways, you need to turn the wheel in the direction the back of the vehicle is skidding. This will allow the front of the vehicle to line up with the back. 
• As soon as the vehicle begins to straighten out, turn the wheel back to prevent the vehicle from skidding in the opposite direction. 
• Continue to correct your steering, left and right, until you recover completely from the skid. The most important vehicle control to use during a skid is the steering wheel.

Both hands should remain on the steering wheel at all times except when it is necessary to use one hand for some other driving task.