Vehicle skids are most likely to be caused by:

• A. Brakes failing
• B. Tires underinflated on dry pavement
• C. Steering too slowly
• D. Driving too fast on slippery roads

Answer: (D)

On slippery roads, traction between the tires and the road is reduced, so the tires have less grip to handle braking, steering, and acceleration. A skid happens when you push the tires past that grip limit, causing them to slide instead of rolling. Driving too fast on slick surfaces increases the demand on that limited traction, so when you brake or steer, the tires can’t maintain control and begin to skid.

Brakes failing could cause a loss of control in some scenarios, but modern brakes prevent locking and are not the most typical cause on slick pavement. Tires underinflated on dry pavement can worsen control, but the key factor on a slippery surface is speed relative to available traction. Steering too slowly doesn’t by itself cause a skid; it’s the combination of speed with reduced grip that leads to sliding. To reduce skids, slow down before and during turns, brake gently, and smooth out steering on slick roads.