IT’S winter, and it’s a wonderful idea to drive up to the hills and see the snow painting the countryside white.

However as soon as you come onto a snow-covered road, your driving condition will change drastically. The snow and ice will create a fine layer between the tyre and terra firma. Very easily, and without warming, while going around a corner or braking, the car could go into a skid.

A skid is a term applied to the car’s behaviour when the tyres lose traction with the ground. It happens on tarmac, most often under extreme braking conditions or going around a corner too fast. The tyres have no adhesion to the road, hence, the car can go out of control. However, by using your presence of mind and by following the right procedure, you can regain control of the vehicle.

Avoid braking the car while going on a snow-covered road

A skid usually means that the tyres stop rolling and start to slide in a straight line or sideways. It usually originates in the drive wheels — in the rear wheels for a rear-wheel drive car and the front-wheels for a front-wheel drive car. A front-engine car can be more complicated and, consequently, more dangerous. Most cars these days are front engine, front-wheel drive.

The procedure to fight a skid is the same. Keep a cool head. It can be alarming because a skid can happens in a micro-second. One moment all is well, then suddenly the car goes into a skid and is out of control.

Cardinal rule: Do not touch the brakes or clutch — this will only aggravate the situation. Ease off the accelerator or decelerate slowly. All your movements must be slow but sure. No sudden wrenching of the steering wheel, this will only aggravate the situation.

In a rear-wheel drive car, it may be possible to correct a skid by giving power to the rear wheels. By doing this, it is possible to create a controlled-skid situation. However, it needs practise, so make sure you have mastered it before you put your driving to test on a public road.

Next, turn the steering wheel, slowly but surely into the skid. This means if the car has skidded to the right, nose pointing to the right turn, turn the steering wheel to the right. Slowly. Over reaction may make the car fishtail i.e. the rear end will spin out. Don’t try to fight a skid by turning the steering wheel into the opposite direction. It does not work.

You must decelerate. In a front-wheel drive car, however, some power will be required. When you have gained some control, accelerate slowly. It should be possible to coax the car to go into the direction you want it to go into. This is the purpose of the exercise. To have the control of the car and make it obey you.

Don’t ever press down hard on the accelerator. This will cause the wheels to spin and could re-skid the car.

Don’t press the clutch. The engine does some braking for you, and you’ll lose that advantage by depressing the clutch. If anything shift into a lower gear quickly but release the clutch gently.

Don’t brake. This certainly won’t help. On the contrary, it may lock the wheels and the skid may get more severe with you losing total control of the car’s behaviour.

Before heading to the hills to see the snow-scape, make sure the car is road worthy. Tyres and brakes have to be in A-1 condition. Wipers must work to clear the glass outside, and there is the heater to demist the interior. There could be fog or mist and a dirty windscreen is no help. You need road vision. Plain water in the windshield washer bottle is not recommended, it will freeze on the glass, further obstructing vision. Add a touch of vinegar and an ammonia-based cleaning fluid like Colin or Brisk.

A blanket, a flask of hot tea or coffee, chocolates, sandwiches should be part of your survival kit. A tow-rope, a shovel and /or a 10kg bag of sand. If your car gets stuck going uphill, sprinkling sand in front of your drive tyres will give you traction. It saves on pushing, shovelling or towing.

Happy motoring!