If your car starts to skid, what is the first thing you must do?

• A. Take your foot off the accelerator and steer in the direction of the skid
• B. Brake firmly
• C. Shift to neutral
• D. Accelerate to regain traction

Answer: (A)

When a car starts to skid, the first move is to reduce power to the wheels and steer toward the direction you want the car to go. Easing off the accelerator lowers wheel speed and helps tires regain traction, while steering into the skid aligns the tires with your intended path so grip can be reestablished. Braking hard can lock wheels and worsen the skid, shifting to neutral removes engine braking and can make control harder, and pressing the accelerator typically increases wheel spin and the skid. If your car has ABS, you can brake firmly in a controlled way, but the initial and most important action is to ease off the throttle and steer to recover control.