What should you do if your car begins to skid?

When your car begins to skid, the most effective response is to steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go. This technique helps regain control of the vehicle by guiding it back onto the intended path. If you're skidding to the right, for instance, you should turn the steering wheel to the right. This action can align the wheels with the direction of the skid, allowing the tires to regain traction with the road surface.

Braking hard and steering straight can exacerbate the skid, as it may cause the vehicle to lose even more control. Similarly, turning in the opposite direction of the skid can lead to a loss of control, as it is not the natural way for the vehicle to respond in such a situation. Lastly, quickly turning the wheel back and forth can create erratic movements, which may further destabilize the vehicle instead of providing the necessary control to recover from the skid.