What action should you take if your tires lose traction while driving?

When your tires lose traction, the most effective response is to steer in the direction you want to go. This action helps to regain control of the vehicle by aligning the direction of the wheels with the movement of the car. When traction is lost, steering in the intended direction allows the tires to potentially regain grip on the road surface.

This technique is particularly important in scenarios such as hydroplaning or when driving on slippery roads. By guiding the vehicle towards where you want to travel, you can avoid overcorrection and maintain a safer trajectory.

Braking hard can often worsen the situation by causing the wheels to lock up and resulting in a loss of steering control, while accelerating may increase the risk of losing control further. Turning off the engine would not help in regaining traction and would leave you without power steering, making control more difficult.