One of the most important things to remember when your vehicle starts to skid is to not panic.

What to Do If Your Car Slides on Ice

Every driver living in a cold weather climate that experiences harsh winters has had it happen. You’re driving down the road when your vehicle hits a patch of ice and starts to slide. What do you do? Some drivers handle it better than others, but we want everyone to know how to keep themselves safe on the road. So, read on to learn what to do if your car slides on ice.

How to Steer Your Car Out of a Skid

Often times when you hit a patch of ice or turn too aggressively on slick roads, you will feel the rear end of your car start to slide out. When this happens, it’s important not to panic. Just remember to follow these steps, which can help you potentially get out of a skid:

Remove your foot from the accelerator. When you’re trying to get out of a skid, applying more power won’t help.
Do not apply the brakes. Many might be tempted to slam on the brakes, but when you think about it, brakes won’t work too well on ice.
Steer in the direction of the skid. If the rear of your vehicle is sliding to the right, then turn the steering wheel to the right, and vice verse. In other words, steer in the direction you want to go. It’s important, however, that you do so gently. Do not jerk the steering wheel.
If the vehicle starts to skid in the other direction, follow the same steering advice until your car is headed straight.

If you do lose control of your vehicle as it is sliding on ice, try not to panic. Just remember the steps above. Of course, even more important than learning what to do if your car slides on ice is learning how to drive safely in the winter. So, be sure to check out our helpful tips for safe winter driving on the Mazda of Lodi blog.