How should you handle skid recovery in icy conditions?

In icy conditions, effective skid recovery relies on the driver's ability to regain control of the vehicle smoothly and safely. Steering gently in the direction of the skid is the correct approach because it helps realign the vehicle with its travel path.

When a vehicle skids, the rear wheels may lose traction, causing them to slide sideways. By steering in the direction that the rear of the vehicle is sliding, you encourage the vehicle to return to a straight line. This technique works because it helps balance the vehicle’s dynamics and encourages traction to be regained.

Other approaches, such as accelerating and steering toward the skid or braking hard, may lead to a loss of control because they can exacerbate the skid. Braking hard often causes the wheels to lock up, which diminishes control, while accelerating can intensify the skid. Shifting gears to lower speed is typically not as effective in managing skidding dynamics compared to the immediate action of steering into the skid to stabilize the vehicle.