Recovering From A Skid

As the weather gets cooler, the roads get slicker. Skids are more common in late fall and early winter than in the middle of the summer. Skidding can be scary, but you can still exert some control over your vehicle, by following these tips.

Rear-Wheel Skids

A skid occurs when the rear wheels lock or lose traction. To regain steering control:

Take your foot off the brake pedal, hard braking causes the rear wheels to skid.
Ease off the gas pedal if the rear wheels lose traction.
Shift to neutral (automatic) or push in the clutch pedal (standard).
Look down the road in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go, and be aware of the vehicle and how it is responding to your steering.
To regain control, steer gently in the direction you want to go.
Once the vehicle is straight, return to a driving gear.
Accelerate gently.
Drive at a safe speed.

Front-Wheel Skids

Front-wheel skids are caused by hard braking, acceleration or by driving too fast for the road conditions. You can't steer when the front wheels lose traction. To regain steering control:

Release the brake if the front wheels skid from hard braking.
Ease off the gas pedal if the front wheels lose traction.
Shift to neutral (automatic) or push in the clutch (standard).
Wait for the front wheels to grip the road again.
Select drive (automatic) or release the clutch (standard).
Accelerate gently.
Drive at a safe speed.

Four-Wheel Skids

Sometimes all four wheels lose traction – generally at high speeds or under poor road conditions. To regain steering control:

Remove your foot from the brake or accelerator.
Shift into neutral.
Look and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.
Wait for the wheels to grip the road again.
Return to a driving gear.
Drive at a safe speed.

Don't let a skid burn a hole in your wallet. Call Heritage Insurance, Ltd. at (800) 667-7640 for a free Moose Jaw SK car insurance quote.

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