🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

What is Skidding and Recovery?

Skidding occurs when a vehicle's tires lose grip on the road surface, causing the car to slide sideways or lose direction control. Recovery depends on quick recognition and correct steering input.

Short answer

A skid is tire-grip loss, causing sideways sliding. Recovery: steer into the skid direction, ease off accelerator/brakes, and smoothly regain traction.

Skid Recovery Steps

1
Recognize skid
Feel and see sliding; rear sliding left/right or all-wheel drift
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2
Steer into skid
Turn wheels in the direction the rear is sliding
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3
Ease controls
Release accelerator; avoid braking or reduce brake pressure
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4
Regain grip
As traction returns, straighten wheels and continue safely

Step-by-step worked examples

Your car rear slides left on wet road. What do you do?

1. Recognize the rear-left skid (car rotating counterclockwise)
2. Steer LEFT to point front wheels in the skid direction
3. Release accelerator immediately
4. Avoid braking; let traction recover
5. Once grip returns, straighten wheels and continue

Braking on ice causes rear-right skid. Correct action?

1. Recognize rear sliding to the right
2. Steer RIGHT to follow the skid
3. Release brake completely
4. Hold steering until car straightens
5. Gently accelerate once stable

High-speed cornering skid — what causes it and how to recover?

1. Cause: speed exceeds road grip in the turn
2. Ease off accelerator (reduces weight on inside tires)
3. Steer slightly into the skid direction (opposite lock)
4. Avoid hard braking (locks wheels further)
5. Gradually increase steering as grip returns

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.Your rear slides LEFT. Which way do you steer?

Correct answer: B. Steering left points your front in the direction of motion, allowing traction to straighten the car.

Q2.What is the first thing to do in a skid?

Correct answer: C. Releasing the accelerator reduces engine power and allows traction to recover.

Q3.Which action WORSENS a skid?

Correct answer: C. Hard braking locks wheels, destroying traction and prolonging the skid.

Q4.A skid on ice vs. wet road is…

Correct answer: D. The recovery method (steer into skid, release accelerator) is the same; only grip recovery speed differs.

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Common mistakes

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Steering AWAY from the skid (opposite lock). — Correct: Steer INTO the skid to align your front with motion.

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Braking hard to stop the skid. — Correct: Braking locks wheels and worsens it; release brakes instead.

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Panicking and jerking the wheel. — Correct: Smooth, deliberate steering; abrupt input extends the skid.

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Accelerating during a skid. — Correct: Release accelerator to reduce engine power and allow recovery.

FAQ

What is a skid?

A skid is the loss of tire grip on the road surface, causing the vehicle to slide sideways.

How do you recover from a skid?

Steer into the direction the rear is sliding, release the accelerator, and avoid braking.

Why should you never brake during a skid?

Braking locks the wheels, destroying traction and extending the slide.

What are common skid causes?

Excessive speed, hard acceleration, sharp turns, sudden braking, wet road, or ice.