- Entry Level Driver Training Skid Control and Recovery Questions and Answers Flashcards

What is a 'drive wheel skid' and what causes it?

Answer: The rear drive wheels losing traction, usually from excessive braking or acceleration

A drive wheel skid occurs when the rear drive wheels lose traction and spin or lock up, typically caused by excessive braking force, sudden acceleration on slippery surfaces, or mechanical failure.

What is the correct response to a front wheel skid?

Answer: Remove your foot from the brake and let the vehicle slow down until traction returns

In a front wheel skid, the front tires have lost traction. The only way to regain steering is to let the wheels roll freely by removing your foot from the brake, allowing the tires to grip the road again.

How does antilock braking system (ABS) help with skid prevention?

Answer: ABS prevents wheel lockup during hard braking, allowing the driver to maintain steering control

ABS automatically modulates brake pressure to prevent wheel lockup during hard braking, which maintains tire traction and allows the driver to steer around obstacles while braking.

What is an oversteer skid and how should you correct it?

Answer: When the rear of the vehicle slides outward in a turn; steer in the direction of the skid

Oversteer occurs when the rear end swings wide in a turn. The correction is to steer in the direction the rear is sliding (countersteer) and ease off the throttle to transfer weight to the front tires.

Why are empty trucks more prone to skidding than loaded trucks?

Answer: Empty trucks have less weight pressing the tires against the road, resulting in less traction

Empty trucks have significantly less weight on the drive and trailer axles, which means less friction between the tires and road surface, making them more susceptible to wheel lockup and skidding.

What role does speed play in skid risk?

Answer: Higher speed dramatically increases both the likelihood and severity of skids

Higher speed increases skid risk because tires have less time to maintain traction, stopping distances increase exponentially, and the force in any collision or recovery attempt is much greater.