What to Do if Your Car Begins to Skid

Yikes! It is no fun driving in ice. First of all, take it easy out there! Secondly, know what to do if your car begins to skid on snow or ice.

• Take your foot off the accelerator – and resist temptation to slam on the brakes! You want the vehicle to slow down so you can regain traction, but if you put the brakes on, that just will not help at all.
• If possible, shift the vehicle to a lower gear.
• Steer the car (don’t jerk the steering wheel!) in the direction you want the car to go.
• Be easy – if you over-steer or “over-correct” the skid can worsen very quickly.
• Once the skidding has stopped, gently apply the brakes so you can get traction applied more evenly.

Did you know that “black ice” is the main culprit in cold weather that causes vehicles to lose traction, slide, and skid? Black ice is a glaze of ice that’s hard to see and that rather blends in with the road. It is most likely to form when there has been a sudden shift in air temperature and is often worse in the early morning or late evening hours and also on overpasses and bridges. One warning sign is in cold weather you notice there is no water spray on what appears to be a wet road.

Be safe out there!