What should be the first action taken during a skid?

When a vehicle begins to skid, the most effective first action is to steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. This method helps regain control of the vehicle by allowing the driver to align the tires with the direction of travel. By doing so, you can help facilitate vehicle recovery and stability, as your steering inputs will directly influence where the vehicle moves.

Applying brakes firmly, steering in the opposite direction of the skid, or accelerating may lead to further loss of control or exacerbate the skid. Braking hard can lock the wheels, causing the vehicle to slide even more. Steering opposite to the skid may initially seem intuitive but can lead to overcorrection and create additional instability. Accelerating is not advisable as it can worsen the situation by increasing speed and leading to a loss of control. In a skid, the goal is to stabilize the vehicle, and proper steering is a critical component of that process.