Response to a skid

Field east

Just listening to Geraldine Herbert on the Pat Kenny show.
she said , for the second time, that I your car is into a skid and is heading towards the ditch or a wall or whatever that you steer the car in the direction that the car is travelling in ie you steer towards the ditch. So, For example, and for clarification, if one is going along a straight road and , say , the steering wheel is at 90 degrees and you get a severe skid to your right. According to Ms Herbert you should turn the steering wheel clockwise so as to point the car in the direction of the skid. WHY IS THIS . ? . What’s behind the science of it?
I was always of the opinion that, in the above situation ,one would turn the steering wheel ‘slightly’ anti-clockwise for the following two reasons:-

(1) the wheels will contribute more to slowing the car down if turned away from the skid direction as they are ‘presenting’ a bigger surface area once the opportunity arises eg kerb, thawed out area, etc. A tyre that is steering straight into the skid, not only presents a smaller surface area but it is also ‘nicely rounded’ and therefor Can more easily mount over any resistance it. Might meet.

(1) if the steering wheel is turned ‘slightly’ anti-clockwise as soon as you realise the car is starting to skid ,as described above , then as soon as the tyres come across , say, a gravelled area , unfrozen clay, etc, etc that the car has an increased possibility of ‘ getting back on track’ , maybe not hit ‘that wall’ straight on, etc.

Has any boardie out there any views on the issue?

o1s1n

Google has you covered! 😁

Steer into the skid, meaning 

if the back of the car fishtails slightly to the right, turn the steering wheel slightly to the right

. You want to align your tires in the direction the car is sliding so they can roll with the inertia rather than skidding against it. Don't jerk the steering wheel too hard.

Basically you're turning in the same direction as the back of the car, which is turning against it really. Can kind of think of it as 'catching' the back of the car. If you were to turn against the skid (so the back of your car is skidding to the left and you turn right) you'll just made the back of the car skid further.

07Lapierre

also don’t brake!

Esel

What's the technique for an understeer skid?

07Lapierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123043034#Comment_123043034

its the same…take your foot of the accelerator, steer in the direction of the skid so the wheels can roll and don't brake.

Although prevention is better than cure..better to avoid a skid in the first place by driving according to the road conditions.

Burt Renaults

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123038903#Comment_123038903

I avoided an almost certain accident once by braking heavily during a skid. It caused the car to stop fishtailing and go straight into a less slippery area, where I was able to regain traction.

But yes, the safest thing is to avoid causing your car to skid in the first place. Choose carefully which parts of the tarmac you're going to drive on and do so slowly and smoothly with minimal steering and, wherever possible, no braking at all. I've always had a habit of "testing" my car in slippery conditions. Deliberately causing it to lose traction in open spaces where it's safe to do so. It gives you a good idea of where the limits are, and how easy it is to exceed them.

07Lapierre

Next time use the “Scandinavian flick” instead?

https://youtu.be/w9Uox2VSZ8U?si=B5xly4dM42O2LTGn