At Crown Nissan, we know firsthand that the roads get extremely slippery when we receive snow and icy weather. Whether you skid in traffic or on an empty street, the situation can be fatal, so it's important to know how to get your car back in control. Read more to learn about five different types of skids and how to recover from each.
Oversteer
When a car's rear wheels lose grip and begin to slide sideways, it's called oversteer. Usually, this occurs when a vehicle is running at speeds faster than it should for the conditions, then brakes while making a turn or coming into a curve. It may also occur when going downhill and hitting curves or corners too fast. To gain back control in an oversteer situation, follow these steps: Take your foot off the gas or brakes and gently apply pressure on the other pedal, which will be the gas or brakes depending on which you were just using. While doing this, slightly steer in the direction you want to go. Again, the keyword here is slightly.
Understeer (Plowing or Pushing)
When a car's front wheels lose traction or lock and the driver is unable to complete a turn, understeer is taking place. In this situation, the driver is most likely entering a corner or turn faster than they should for the conditions. To gain back control it is imperative not to turn the steering wheel too much during the skid; this won't help and could be even more dangerous. Simply make slight steering-wheel adjustments and apply the brakes. It is also considered understeer when an individual is driving aggressively toward a curve or turn, then hits the brakes hard, causing the front wheels to lock and the car to skid. In this case, pressure must be taken off the brake pedal in order to steer.
Counterskid (Fishtailing)
Counterskidding is when a driver has not correctly controlled an oversteer skid and it leads to a violent back-and-forth motion at the rear end of a car. The motion is similar to that of a fishtail, hence the nickname. It is important not to correct late or overcorrect an oversteer, otherwise fishtailing can occur and it's very difficult to get the vehicle back in control during this type of skid. The best thing you can do is focus your eyes on the direction you want to go and slightly steer in that direction. Your goal is to regain control over the steering wheel, so make controlled movements and gently apply the gas or brake pedal as needed.
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