Cars that slide is dangerous but knowing what to do in this situation will help in keeping safe
Holiday time means people on the road going to meet with friends and family. It may mean driving in some wet weather or on roads not well known and this brings dangers of it’s own kind.
POLOKWANE – Keeping this in mind Review spoke to a driving instructor in the city on tips he would give people in a dangerous situation.
He said that most cases he came across was where people did not know what to do when a car slides or skids. “This is where people make mistakes and get into a serious accident when it could have been avoided,” Daniel Rapelala told Review.
He said that there are things people should remember and these include the following:
Stay Calm, to accomplish this, you will require tyres that are fit for the road, if you intend to travel.
When driving on wet roads or gravel roads keep the following in mind:
1. Drive slower than normal.
2. Avoid aggressive acceleration – this will cause your wheels to spin.
3. Avoid harsh breaking – this will cause your wheels to lock and your tyres will lose their traction.
4. Don’t steer violently
If you do find yourself in a skid then don’t panic. Recovering will depend on a few factors, such as whether you have front wheel, rear wheel or four wheel drive, the road conditions and the nature of the skid.
You should point the front wheels in the direction you wish to head, keep your foot off the brake and ensure the car is in gear until you have slowed to a pace where is it possible for you to regain control.
