The Open Road CORRECTING A SKID

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 148, 8 June 1935, Page 13

The Open Road

CORRECTING A SKID

First Essential to Keep Cool VALUE OF PRACTICE The whole art of correcting a skid is to steer into it. Whatever you du, however, keep cool. By steering into it we mean to say that if the tail of the car swings round to the left, you turn the steering wheel also to the left, The object and result of this is to drive in that direction, which has the effect of bringing the tail into the straight again. In various circumstances this may cause the tail to slide round iu ilie reverse direction, causing a skid the other way so that one has quickly to steer to the right. Ordinary small skids, however, are effectively corrected by the one change of direction of the steering wheel. The great thing to remember is that one must not indulge in excessive braking during a skid, as this tends to accentuate the fierceness of uncontrollability and may complicate matters. If a skid is caused by braking, ease the pressure on the pedal for a fraction which may help to straighten out the car, at the same time take measures to correct the skid, as already described. There are occasions in which a jab on the accelerator will help considerably in driving a car out of its skid. Such methods, however, are only practised generally by the more experienced driver. There are occasions, of course, wdien to tread on the accelerator may cause more trouble than ever, especially if the road surface is very greasy, when power delivered to the rear wheels will cause spin and less tyre adhesion than before. In certain circumstances in which the skid sets up at a comparatively modest speed, it is sometimes found desirable to debrake and declutch, so that the car actually rolls into its original straight path. By doing this the violence of the side sway can be diminished, because the driving force, i.e., the power which is being transmitted to the rear wheels, is eliminated. Front-wheel skids are, happily, very rarely experienced and generally occur when the steering is locked over hard while motoring on a particularly slippery surface. They are extremely difficult to master, and one remedy is to steer from left to right quickly two or three times, in the hope of ultimately regaining tyre adhesion. " A little practice in skidding on a quiet, greasy road is worth a ton of theory. The novice who may be scared stiff immediately his car appears to take control in even the slightest skid would do well to go out with an experienced driver and watch his sequence of operations. A skid can be created quickly enough bv locking over the steering when travelling fast and applying the brakes. On a particularly slippery surface this is almost bound to throw the tail round; then set about straightening it out. On a greasy or slippery surface, when driving in the normal way, it pays to handle the steering wheel lightly and in some cases to waggle the steering wheel slightly if there is any indication of instability. In this way sometimes a skid can be corrected immediately it tends to set up. Here are some hints which should be followed by drivers in their own interests, in order to avoid skids so far as possible. Reduce speed on a slippery surface, when approaching a bend or obstruction. Do not brake violently or suddenly. If your speed is moderate a gentle application by which one can “feel” the brakes will be definitely advantageous. Reduce speed before entering curves and refrain from using the brakes whilst actually changing direction. The best plan is to enter a curve slowly, then accelerate away from it.