Winter weather has arrived in much of the U.S., and with it comes hazardous driving conditions. Roads coated in ice or compacted snow can cause cars and trucks to skid, according to Safety+Health magazine.
The Division of Workers’ Compensation at the Texas Department of Insurance shares the following tips to help you be ready to respond to a vehicle skid:
- Test the brakes. Learn how the vehicle’s brakes respond in icy conditions by practicing in an empty parking lot. See how the vehicle reacts when pressure is applied to the brake pedal.
- Stop accelerating. Remove your foot from the gas pedal to slow down the vehicle and spin of the tires.
- Gently tap the brakes. Do not slam on the brakes, which may cause the vehicle to skid further.
- Steer away from the skid. Correct the vehicle’s position by steering in the opposite direction of the skid.
- Do not oversteer. This can result in a driver losing control of the vehicle.
