Delaware Driver Education State Practice Test

What should you do if you feel your vehicle is losing control?

1. Accelerate to regain speed

2. Steer in the direction of the skid

3. Brake hard to stop

4. Calm your passengers down

The correct answer is: Steer in the direction of the skid

When a vehicle is losing control, particularly in instances such as skidding, steering in the direction of the skid is the appropriate response. This technique, often referred to as "steering into the skid," allows the driver to help realign the wheels with the direction the vehicle is currently headed. This action encourages the tires to regain traction with the road surface, which can help stabilize the vehicle and bring it back under control. In contrast, accelerating to regain speed can worsen the loss of control, as it can increase the vehicle's momentum and make handling more difficult. Braking hard may lead to locking the wheels, which can exacerbate the problem by causing the vehicle to slide. While calming passengers is important for maintaining a safe environment, it does not address the immediate need to regain control of the vehicle during a loss of traction. Therefore, steering in the direction of the skid is the safest and most effective method for regaining control of a vehicle experiencing instability.