Which of the following should you do if your car begins to skid?

When your car begins to skid, the most effective response is to steer in the direction you want to go. This technique helps to regain control of the vehicle by aligning the front wheels with the direction of travel. When skidding, the vehicle is typically losing traction, so by turning into the skid, you allow the tires to grip the road surface better as they align with the path intended.

In a skid, the natural instinct might be to steer away from the direction of the skid, but doing so can often lead to over-correction and a loss of control. The key lies in gently steering toward where you want to travel, which helps to stabilize the car and reduce the likelihood of spinning out.

The other responses, such as accelerating or pumping the brakes, can exacerbate the situation. Accelerating could worsen the skid by increasing momentum, while pumping the brakes quickly might lock up the wheels or take valuable time away from recovering control. Similarly, turning sharply in the opposite direction can lead to an even more severe loss of control, making the skid worse. Therefore, the best practice in such a situation is to steer in the direction you wish to go to regain stability and control.