What is the proper action to take if your vehicle begins to skid?

When a vehicle begins to skid, staying calm and steering in the direction you want to go is the appropriate action to take. This method helps align the vehicle with the path you wish to travel, allowing for better control during a skidding situation. If you steer into a skid, it can help to regain traction and help the rear wheels regain control, ultimately allowing the vehicle to stabilize.

Turning sharply or making sudden movements can exacerbate the skid, leading to a loss of control rather than helping to regain it. Similarly, braking hard will likely cause the wheels to lock up, which prevents steering and can make the skid worse. Accelerating in an attempt to gain traction does not effectively address the loss of control; it can also worsen the skid by shifting weight improperly and making it harder to regain traction. Therefore, calmly steering in the desired direction is the most effective technique for safely recovering from a skid.