Skid Control and Recovery
This domain tests skid causes, identification, and recovery. Minnesota's exam includes winter skids because ice and snow are common, but the physics apply year-round.
Skid types
- Rear-wheel skid: the rear slides out. Remove the cause-release the brake or accelerator-and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.
- Front-wheel skid: the vehicle won't steer. Release the brake and let the front wheels roll so they regain grip, then steer.
- All-wheel skid: release the brakes and steer gently.
Prevention
Slow before curves, brake in a straight line, and make gentle steering and throttle inputs. ABS helps you steer during hard braking but cannot create traction. On ice, reduce speed and increase following distance. If you must brake during a skid, do so gently and only after regaining control.
Worked example
On an icy curve, the rear of a tractor-trailer swings left. Reasoning: the rear has lost lateral grip. The driver releases the brake, looks and steers right (the direction of the skid), and avoids overcorrecting. Hard braking would deepen the skid.
Traps that cost marks
Steering away from the skid; locking the brakes; overcorrecting and causing a secondary skid; believing ABS prevents all skids.