So there was this video of a woman managing to avoid a crash by steering in a special way. I’m learning to drive rn and people keep saying if you skid you steer into it, but isn’t that the opposite of what it feels like you would do?
In: Physics
The best explanation I’ve heard is: Steer so you keep the front wheels in front of the back wheels. If the back wheels are sliding to the right, steer to the right so the front wheels stay in front of them.
There simplest explanation is because you want to make the tires point in a direction that allows them to roll. If you’re skidding a car and it begins to rotate, the tires are no longer pointed in the direction the car is moving. You have way nor control of the direction and speed of a car when it’s wheels are rolling than when it’s sliding so if a skid happens you try to get the front wheels of the car to point in the same direction as the skid and they’ll hopefully be close enough to the direction of travel of the front if the car to have enough friction to stop the skid.
Watch the Pixar movie “Cars” for an animated explanation. Practice in a gravel parking lot. It’s surprisingly natural once you do it.
any time ive been in a skid, counter steering worked, i rly dont know what ppl are talking about by turning into the skid
when a car is driving normally, the surface of the tire isn’t moving relative to the road. that’s what rolling is, and it allows the tire to grip the road tightly. when your begin to skid, the tire is now sliding across the road and can’t grip it. by pointing the tires in the direction of the skid (steering into it), you’re hoping the tires and the road will start moving in unison again, giving the tires their strong grip back and allowing proper steering.
They should stop teaching people this. Instead they should now teach people to steer where they want the car to go. That way when you do regain control the car goes where you want it to go
The back is turning in one direction. So you steer the front in the same direction and those forces cancel eachother out allowing you to go straight and regain traction.
The way I think of it is like this: first, the whole problem with a skid is that the wheels are facing the wrong direction, right? So, when you steer into the skid, you point the wheels in the correct direction, and that’s how I think of it: steering forward.
Steering into the skid aligns the tread with the direction of motion, increasing the chance of regaining traction steering away basically puts you at a more severe angle tread vs direction, and doesn’t really change what’s happening in regards to control and motion direction.
Regardless of the conditions, if you have lost traction with the road (your tires are slipping, spinning, or not contacting the pavement in any way) take your foot off the gas pedal slowly and consistently (avoid braking – this can make the skid worse), start steering into the skid to avoid over correction (which will usually result in throwing you off the road completely or into oncoming traffic) and allow the car to slow down naturally until you can either pull off safely, or regain control/traction. I’m not gonna give a scientific reason why, I just know from experience driving on shitty country roads with shitty tires. This is the shit people should learn before being handed a license, but unfortunately they aren’t. Always remember to drive slowly and cautiously in hazardous conditions. Fuck the assholes that will try to intimidate you to drive faster. If they want around you, they’ll pass you. Your life matters more than whatever hurry they’re in. I always try to drive like I have a passenger with me, even if I don’t. It helps to keep me focused and in control of the vehicle. Skidding is scary, especially on ice and hydroplaning on water. I could lie and say you get used to it, but you never really do. It’s always scary, and it should be. Good luck with your driving and be safe!
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