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New Mexico driving lesson · Emergencies & Collisions

Skids & protecting yourself in a crash

A 3-minute lesson from the New Mexico course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Emergencies & Collisions
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
35, 36

Any road that's safe normally can be dangerous when wet or covered in snow or ice, and high speed raises the chance of a skid if you must turn or stop suddenly. Skids happen when tires lose grip, usually because the driver is going too fast for conditions.

Know the rule

You can't control a skidding vehicle, so the best plan is not to cause a skid in the first place.

Handbook p. 36 ↗

If your vehicle starts to skid:

  • Stay off the brake: until the vehicle slows, braking won't work and can worsen the skid
  • Steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go
  • As it straightens, turn the wheel back the other way, or it may swing around into a new skid
  • Keep correcting left and right until you're back under control
Handbook p. 36 ↗

Know the rule

If you can't avoid a collision, try to lessen injuries. The most important thing you can do is use your lap and shoulder belts.

Handbook p. 36 ↗

Protect yourself by crash direction

Protect yourself by crash direction
Hit fromWhat to do
RearPress against seat back, head on head restraint
SideBelts keep you behind the wheel; steer or brake
FrontTurn for a glancing blow rather than head-on
Handbook p. 36 ↗

Know the rule

Hit from the rear, your body is thrown backward. Be ready to brake so you aren't pushed into another vehicle.

Handbook p. 36 ↗

Know the rule

Hit from the side, your body is thrown toward the side that's hit. Get ready to steer or brake so you don't hit something else.

Handbook p. 36 ↗

Know the rule

An air bag inflates and then deflates after a crash, so be ready to keep the vehicle from hitting something else. Belts keep you behind the wheel and protect you in a second crash.

Handbook p. 36 ↗

Put it into practice

An oncoming car crosses into your lane and a crash is unavoidable. Steer away so any impact is a glancing blow instead of head-on; you might miss it entirely.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

If your vehicle begins to skid, what should you do with the brake?
  1. Pump it rapidly
  2. Stay off it until you slow down
  3. Press it firmly and hold it down
  4. Use only the parking brake

Answer: Stay off it until you slow down

If your vehicle begins to skid, stay off the brake — until the vehicle slows, your brakes won't work and could worsen the skid.

Handbook p. 36 ↗
How should you steer during a skid?
  1. Turn the wheel opposite the direction you want to go
  2. Turn the wheel in the direction you want the vehicle to go
  3. Release the wheel completely
  4. Hold the wheel perfectly straight and rigid

Answer: Turn the wheel in the direction you want the vehicle to go

Steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go, then correct back as it begins to straighten.

Handbook p. 36 ↗
If your vehicle is hit from the rear, what should you do?
  1. Press into the seat and headrest
  2. Brace against the door
  3. Duck down below the headrest
  4. Lean forward toward the steering wheel

Answer: Press into the seat and headrest

If hit from the rear, press against the back of your seat and put your head against the head restraint.

Handbook p. 36 ↗
What keeps you behind the wheel if you're hit from the side?
  1. The parking brake
  2. The vehicle's crumple zones
  3. The vehicle's air bag alone
  4. Your lap and shoulder belts

Answer: Your lap and shoulder belts

Your lap and shoulder belts help keep you behind the wheel if hit from the side.

Handbook p. 36 ↗
If a head-on collision looks unavoidable, what should you try to do?
  1. Turn for a glancing blow
  2. Brake as hard as possible and accept the impact
  3. Steer directly at the object to minimize spin
  4. Cover your face and let go of the wheel

Answer: Turn for a glancing blow

Try to have a glancing blow rather than being struck head on by turning the vehicle.

Handbook p. 36 ↗
If your vehicle starts to skid, you should stay off the brake until it slows down.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Stay off the brake; braking too soon in a skid won't work and could cause you to skid more.

Handbook p. 36 ↗
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