What is the first action to take if your vehicle starts to skid?

When a vehicle begins to skid, the most effective first action is to take your foot off the gas pedal. This helps reduce the vehicle's speed, which can decrease the chances of losing control. When a vehicle skids, the tires have reached their limit of grip on the road surface, and maintaining or accelerating speed can worsen the skidding situation by causing the vehicle to slide further.

By easing off the accelerator, you allow the wheels to regain traction, which can help the driver regain control. Once the speed has diminished and the vehicle begins to stabilize, the driver can then assess whether to steer in the direction they want to go, or, if necessary, apply brakes more carefully to manage the skid.

In contrast, immediately applying the brakes can exacerbate the situation by locking the tires and causing a more severe skid. Accelerating could lead to an even greater loss of control, while turning the steering wheel without adjusting speed may lead to oversteering and further destabilizing the vehicle.