Michigan Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Practice Exam

In case of a skid, which action is most effective to regain control?

1. Accelerate steadily

2. Keep steering straight

3. Counter steer in the opposite direction of the skid

4. Shift to a higher gear

The correct answer is: Counter steer in the opposite direction of the skid

In a skid, the most effective action to regain control of the vehicle is to counter steer in the opposite direction of the skid. This technique helps realign the vehicle with the direction of travel. When a vehicle skids, typically the rear wheels lose traction, causing the rear to slide out. By steering in the opposite direction of the skid, you can help the front wheels regain traction and guide the vehicle back onto a straight path. For instance, if the rear of the vehicle skids to the right, you would turn the steering wheel to the left. This counter-steering motion helps to stabilize the vehicle, allowing you to control its trajectory and prevent spin-out scenarios. While accelerating steadily may seem like it could help, it could further exacerbate the loss of control by increasing speed when traction is lost. Keeping the steering straight is not appropriate during a skid, as it does not address the loss of traction in the rear wheels. Shifting to a higher gear does not correct a skid and could lead to less control and increased loss of traction due to the engine not providing the necessary power band for recovery.