What to do if my car goes into a skid?

Paradigm

Just to illustrate my point watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTCJAplgJv4

It's an extreme example as, to be fair, it would have been difficult/impossible to drive on that road at all but at first there was some control... until he/she applied the brakes. As soon as the wheels locked they were doomed.

Quite why they bailed out is beyond me!

leehal

Paradigm wrote: »

Starting off & skidding are 2 different things.

Modern autos will have a "winter" button, maybe with a snowflake icon on it & causes the car to start off in 2nd or even 3rd to avoid wheelspin.

I have a 58 plate Audi A4 with an automtic box and it doesn't have a winter button, very surprising when my previous 2 VW automatics both had them. Had some great fun in the snow/ice until I bought some winter tyres.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

It depends. If the car is understeering, back off the accelerator, keep the steering wheel in the same position, and traction will eventually be regained. If the car is oversteering, steer into the skid.

If you lose all control (ie car spinning), slam the brakes on and do not let them off until you have stopped. Spinning out of control, and then regaining traction, can result in the car shooting off in the wrong direction. Locking the wheels will ensure the car skids in a straight line.

Inactive

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

If you lose all control (ie car spinning), slam the brakes on and do not let them off until you have stopped. Spinning out of control, and then regaining traction, can result in the car shooting off in the wrong direction. Locking the wheels will ensure the car skids in a straight line.

I would suggest that if ever get in that situation, you may as well look up to the sky and re-think any thoughts you had on religion.:D

roger196

Why dont' you book a lesson at your local skid school. Best place to learn how to correct a skid without a lot of other cars to snooker off.

Inactive

roger196 wrote: »

Why dont' you book a lesson at your local skid school. Best place to learn how to correct a skid without a lot of other cars to snooker off.

Good advice, sadly, it is evident that many drivers do not have a clue on how to drive in these recent adverse weather conditions.

rictus123

Winter tyres worth it?

neilmcl

rictus123 wrote: »

Winter tyres worth it?

Not in this country, unless you live in remote areas.

DKLS

roger196 wrote: »

Why dont' you book a lesson at your local skid school. Best place to learn how to correct a skid without a lot of other cars to snooker off.

Or the cheaper option in this weather, go to a large empty carpark, and practice how to handle skidding, When I was learning to drive my old lady insisted I got experience driving in snow and how to handle a skid.

Both me and the missus have been doing this recently it has been great fun practising drifting and scandinavian flicks.

mikey72

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

It depends. If the car is understeering, back off the accelerator, keep the steering wheel in the same position, and traction will eventually be regained. If the car is oversteering, steer into the skid.

If you lose all control (ie car spinning), slam the brakes on and do not let them off until you have stopped. Spinning out of control, and then regaining traction, can result in the car shooting off in the wrong direction. Locking the wheels will ensure the car skids in a straight line.

If the car is understeering, steering into the skid will start the wheels rolling in the direction of travel, and will regain traction faster than continuing to slide sideways on the ice.

If you lose all control, who's to say the striaght line in a good one anyway, regaining traction may give you some control, so lifting off is better.