A skid happens when the vehicle’s wheel slides out of control on a slippery surface.
Skids can involve the front, rear or all four wheels. Even careful drivers experience skids. You lose traction and your wheels spin or lock, usually when braking, turning or accelerating.
Causes of Skids
• Driving faster than the road or traffic conditions allow
• Sudden, hard braking.
• Turning too fast or accelerating too quickly.
Types of Skidding
The Front Wheel Skid
This happens when the vehicle goes off the intended course. It is caused by excess speed on entry at a corner or a bend. It also occurs during sudden braking when negotiating a hazard.
The Rear Wheel Skid
This occurs when the rear of the vehicle swings out of the line as if the vehicle is trying to overtake at the front. It is often caused excessive speed leading to sudden braking in a hazard situation.
Aquaplaning
Driving too fast or at an excessive or inappropriate speed on a wet road causes aquaplaning. When the tyre tread cannot channel away enough water, the tyre(s) lose contact with the road and the vehicle floats on a wedge of water. Aquaplaning can be avoided by reducing speed in wet conditions. Having the correct tyre pressure and tyre tread depth will maximise your tyres’ ability to maintain their road grip. If it happens, ease off the accelerator and brakes until your speed drops sufficiently for the car tyres to make contact with the road again
Skid recovery
• Take your feet off the accelerator pedals
• Release the brake pedal and reapply the brakes gently
• Quickly turn the steering wheel in the direction you want to go
• As your vehicle turns back in the correct direction, you may then need to steer in the opposite direction so as to stay on your desired path
• Continue to look at your path of travel down the road
Skids can involve the front, rear or all four wheels. Even careful drivers experience skids. You lose traction and your wheels spin or lock, usually when braking, turning or accelerating.
Causes of Skids
• Driving faster than the road or traffic conditions allow
• Sudden, hard braking.
• Turning too fast or accelerating too quickly.
Types of Skidding
The Front Wheel Skid
This happens when the vehicle goes off the intended course. It is caused by excess speed on entry at a corner or a bend. It also occurs during sudden braking when negotiating a hazard.
The Rear Wheel Skid
This occurs when the rear of the vehicle swings out of the line as if the vehicle is trying to overtake at the front. It is often caused excessive speed leading to sudden braking in a hazard situation.
Aquaplaning
Driving too fast or at an excessive or inappropriate speed on a wet road causes aquaplaning. When the tyre tread cannot channel away enough water, the tyre(s) lose contact with the road and the vehicle floats on a wedge of water. Aquaplaning can be avoided by reducing speed in wet conditions. Having the correct tyre pressure and tyre tread depth will maximise your tyres’ ability to maintain their road grip. If it happens, ease off the accelerator and brakes until your speed drops sufficiently for the car tyres to make contact with the road again
Skid recovery
• Take your feet off the accelerator pedals
• Release the brake pedal and reapply the brakes gently
• Quickly turn the steering wheel in the direction you want to go
• As your vehicle turns back in the correct direction, you may then need to steer in the opposite direction so as to stay on your desired path
• Continue to look at your path of travel down the road
