You’re driving home from work, and it’s been snowing all day. The roads are slick, and it feels dangerous. Suddenly, your car begins to lose traction and slide. You immediately slam on the brakes, trying to stop the car so that you can regain control and avoid an accident.
This may feel like the right reaction in the moment, but the reality is that slamming on the brakes often makes things worse. If your tires don’t have traction already, hitting the brakes is just going to remove what little is left. Your vehicle will go out of control, and you’ll simply slide until friction alone stops the vehicle or you hit something else—another vehicle, the concrete divider on the highway, etc.
So what should you do instead?
Often, the best thing to do is just to take your foot off the gas. The engine will gradually slow your vehicle down. But the tires can still turn, so they will often regain traction after a few seconds. You can steer into the skid to maintain control until they do.
The very best thing to do is simply to plan ahead. Drive slowly so that it’s more difficult to lose control. Begin slowing down well before you need to turn, as many people lose control when they turn too sharply. All of your movements should be very smooth and gradual. If you drive with this type of careful focus, you can often avoid losing traction in the first place.
What if someone else hits your vehicle?
Even when you’re driving safely, other drivers often lose control in the snow and ice. If you get injured due to another driver’s mistake, you need to know how to seek financial compensation.