Braking

While braking is often an essential response to driving emergencies, using your brakes inappropriately can actually cause an accident. In emergencies, many drivers attempt to strongly push the brake pedal. This locks the brakes, causes the car to skid and makes it impossible to steer. Pumping the brakes is generally the best way to stop. By doing so, the car stops quicker and you maintain your steering control. This improves your chances of avoiding a collision.V

Skidding

Causes of skids A skid does not just happen. It is almost always the result of a driver’s actions, such as:

• Sudden or excessive braking
• Harsh acceleration
• Coarse or uncontrolled steering
• Excessive speeding on curves.
  
  Figure: Skidding caused by over speeding on curves

Skids are dangerous at all times,but certain conditions can make them even worse. For example:

• poor car maintenance, such as bald tyre and low tyre pressure
• road conditions – water, oil or sand on the road can make it slippery

The ABC of avoiding skids are:

• Accelerate gently,
• Brake gently,
• Corner gently.

If your car begins to skid, follow these steps:

• Turn the steering wheel in the direction your vehicle is skidding. If the rear of your car is skidding to the left, steer to the left. If the rear of your car is skidding to the right, steer to the right. When you steer to correct a skid, another skid may result in the opposite direction. But the second skid will not be as severe as the first. Be prepared to stop the second skid by steering in the opposite direction. It may take several steering movements to regain control of your car.
  
  Figure: Steps to avoid skidding of cars
• If the car skids, do not use your brakes. If you hit the brakes, the skid will be worse. By braking, you also risk locking your wheels and losing control of steering altogether.