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Keep control of your Vehicle to Avoid collisions |
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Winter collision can occur when your vehicle skids a skid occurs when you apply the breaks so hard that one or more wheels lock, or if you press hard on the accelerator and spin the drive wheels.
Skids also occur when you are travelling too fast on a curve and encounter a slippery surface. Skids can best be avoided by anticipating lane changes, turns and curves; slowing down in advance; and by making smooth, precise movements of the steering wheel. Regardless of the type of skid you encounter, to regain control of your vehicle, DO NOT PANIC. |
Rear wheel skids |
The most effective way to get your vehicle back under control during a skid is as follows: |
- 1. Take your foot off the brake or accelerator.
- 2. De clutch on a car with a manual transmission, or shift
to neutral on a car with automatic transmission.
- 3. Look and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.
- 4. As the rear wheels stop skidding to the right or left, counter steer
until you are going in the desired direction.
- 5. In a rear wheel drive vehicle, if you over correct the first
skid (Step 4), be prepared for a rear wheel skid in the opposite direction. Practice and the use of timely, gentle movement of the steering wheel are necessary to avoid this type of skid.
- 6. Once the vehicle is straight, release the clutch or shift to drive, apply gentle accelerator pressure so that the engine speed matches the road speed, and accelerate smoothly to a safe speed
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Front wheel skids |
Front wheel skids are caused by hard braking or acceleration if your vehicle has front wheel drive. When the front wheels lose traction, you will not be able to steer the vehicle. Regardless of whether the vehicle has front , rear or four wheel drive, the best way to regain control if the front wheels skid is: |
- 1. Take your foot off the brake or accelerator.
- 2. De clutch on a car with manual transmission, or shift to neutral on a car with automatic transmission.
- 3. If the front wheels have been turned prior to the loss of traction, don't move the steering wheel. Since the wheels are skidding sideways, a certain amount of braking force will be exerted. (Unwinding the steering wheel will result in regaining steering sooner; however, the vehicle will be travelling faster because there is little sideways braking force. This technique should only be attempted in situations where limited space and sharp curves exist however, in this case do not reduce pressure on the brakes, because the vehicle will shoot off in the direction the wheels are facing.)
- 4. Wait for the front wheels to grip the road again. As soon as traction returns, the vehicle will start to steer again.
- 5. When the front wheels have regained their rip, steer the wheels gently in the desired direction travel.
- 6. Release the clutch or shift to drive and apply gentle accelerator pressure so that the engine speed matches the road speed, and accelerate smoothly to a safe speed.
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There is no risk at all of the car skidding in the opposite direction. |
Four wheel skids |
Sometimes all four wheels lose traction. This generally occurs when the vehicle is driven at a speed too fast for conditions. The most effective way to get your vehicle back under control when all four wheels skid is: |
- 1. Ease foot off the accelerator or take your foot off the brake.
- 2. De clutch on a car with manual transmission or shift to neutral on a car with an automatic transmission, if you can do so quickly.
- 3. Look and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.
- 4. Wait for the wheels to grip the road again. As soon as traction returns, the vehicle will travel in the desired direction.
- 5. Release the clutch or shift to drive and maintain a safe speed.
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NOTE: Avoid using overdrive on slippery surfaces
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The Driver's Permit Study Guide
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The Computerized
Study Guide
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The Motorcycle's Permit Study Guide
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The Truck's Permit
Study Guide
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CAA Driver Training Where Driving is for life
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