What action should be taken if your vehicle begins to skid?

When your vehicle begins to skid, the appropriate response is to steer in the direction you want to go and avoid sudden braking. This action allows you to regain control of your vehicle more effectively. By steering into the skid—meaning if the rear of your vehicle is sliding to the right, you should turn your steering wheel to the right—you can align the vehicle’s front wheels with the direction of movement, helping to stabilize your car.

Maintaining a gentle but firm grip on the steering wheel while not over-reacting is crucial. Abrupt steering or hard braking can exacerbate the skid, leading to a loss of control. It is also essential to avoid panicking during a skid, as this may lead to erratic movements that can worsen the situation.

Other actions, such as braking hard, could lock up the wheels and make it more challenging to regain control. Steering in the opposite direction of the skid can result in losing control of the vehicle even further. Turning off the engine isn't a practical solution; your vehicle would lose power steering and brake assistance, making it harder to control. Thus, steering in the direction you want to go while abstaining from sudden braking is the best course of action during a skid.