What action should you take to regain control of a power skid?

• A. Accelerate to regain traction
• B. Turn wheel sharply opposite to the skid
• C. Let off gas, counter steer (IF sliding)
• D. Brake hard

Answer: (C)

A power skid happens when too much throttle causes the wheels to spin and lose traction. The best way to recover is to ease off the accelerator to reduce wheel spin and then steer into the skid—counter steering—so the tires can bite and reorient the vehicle toward the direction you want to go. Once traction returns, you can straighten the wheel and gently resume forward motion.

Pushing more power or braking hard tends to worsen the skid by increasing wheel slip or locking the wheels, and turning sharply away from the skid can cause an overcorrect and another loss of control. Keep inputs smooth, look where you want to go, and recover progressively.