Driving Tips > Safety Columns
When you're on the skids
The best way to avoid skidding is to adjust your driving for the conditions. Ease up on your travelling speed, accelerate and decelerate gradually, and make gentler and slower turns and lane changes.
If you do go into a skid, here’s what you should do:
Fishtailing
If you’re driving a rear-wheel drive vehicle and your rear tires skid during a turn (fishtailing):
- Take your foot off the accelerator.
- Do not use the brake.
- Look where you want to go and steer in that direction.
Fishtailing with a front-wheel drive is called “torque steer.” You should handle this type of fishtail in the exact same manner as with a rear-wheel drive vehicle.
Braking skids
Prevent braking skids by reducing your travelling speed and allowing extra stopping distance in wet or winter weather conditions. Braking skids are more likely occur in vehicles without anti-lock brakes (ABS). For this type of skid, you’ll need to:
- Take your foot off the brake pedal.
- Slip the gearshift into neutral.
- Look where you want to go and then steer in that direction.
- Gently re-apply the brakes, making sure not to lock the wheels.
For more information, watch The 60-Second Driver on CTV and check out the following sections on our website:
- Sideways Skids in Driving Tips
- Braking on Wet Roads in Driving Tips
- You can access the 60-Second Driver video on Skidding directly
