You know it, I know it – the winter weather is here in Upstate and that means one thing, we need to prepare for it. Especially when it comes to those icy road conditions. But when you start to slide, how can we stay safe and make it through? That’s what we’re here to tell you about – how to correct a slide when you’re on the road. Take our advice below and put it to good use this winter when those icy, cold temperatures creep up and freeze the road.

First things first, don’t brake. We understand this might be your first gut reaction but I am telling you NOT to do it. Why? Braking will only trigger sliding further. And in order for a slide correction to work, your wheels need to be turning freely. So, don’t brake and don’t freak out.

While I know it might be against your instincts, but you want to turn your vehicle into the slide. That’s right, you want to turn your front wheels toward the same direction the rear of your vehicle is sliding. You’ll begin to feel your vehicle straighten out, as it does this, straighten your wheel as well. Keep in mind that if your vehicle is only slightly sliding, you only have to turn your wheel slightly. Proportion your turn based on the amount of slide you are experiencing.

Don’t panic, don’t overcorrect, and keep calm. No matter what the emergency might be, it’s always crucial to keep calm. Oversteering the car allows angular momentum, which means you will want to keep your vehicle from rotating into a complete spin. You can send your vehicle rotating faster than steering can counter if you overcorrect a slide, which will be leaving your vehicle spinning out!  

Lastly, be aware that correcting a slide over 45 MPH requires quick, and precise steering in order to correct. And in most cases, is too difficult for the average driver to correct. In addition, when correcting a slide, be prepared for your vehicle to swing in the opposite direction of where you want to go several times. This oscillation may happen before allowing you to gain control which means you will have to react accordingly.