2.19 Skid Control and Recovery

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery

A skid happens Over-braking. Over-steering. Over-acceleration. Driving too fast. Drive-wheel Skids Correcting a Drive-wheel Braking Skid Stop braking. Countersteer. Front-wheel Skids

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery Correcting a Drive-wheel Braking Skid Countersteer.

Countersteer. As a vehicle turns back on course, it has a tendency to keep on turning. Unless you turn the steering wheel quickly the other way, you may find yourself skidding in the opposite direction. Learning to stay off the brake, turn the steering wheel quickly, push in the clutch, and countersteer in a skid takes a lot of practice. The best place to get this practice is on a large driving range or "skid pad."

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery Correcting a Drive-wheel Braking Skid

Do the following to correct a drive-wheel braking skid. Stop braking. This will let the rear wheels roll again, and keep the rear wheels from sliding. Direction of slide Rear tractor wheels locked-up or spinning Line of travel Countersteer. As a vehicle turns back on course, it has a tendency to keep on turning. Unless you turn the steering wheel quickly the other way, you may find yourself skidding in the opposite direction. Learning to stay off the brake, turn the steering wheel quickly, push in the clutch, and countersteer in a skid takes a lot of practice. The best place to get this practice is on a large driving range or "skid pad."

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery Drive-wheel Skids

Drive-wheel Skids By far the most common skid is one in which the rear wheels lose traction through excessive braking or acceleration. Skids caused by acceleration usually happen on ice or snow. Taking your foot off the accelerator can easily stop them. (If it is very slippery, push the clutch in. Otherwise, the engine can keep the wheels from rolling freely and regaining traction.) Rear wheel braking skids occur when the rear drive wheels lock. Because locked wheels have less traction than rolling wheels, the rear wheels usually slide sideways in an attempt to "catch up" with the front wheels. In a bus or straight truck, the vehicle will slide sideways in a "spin out." With vehicles towing trailers, a drive-wheel skid can let the trailer push the towing vehicle sideways, causing a sudden jackknife. See Figure 2.19.

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery Driving too fast.

Driving too fast. Most serious skids result from driving too fast for road conditions. Drivers who adjust their driving to conditions don't over-accelerate and don't have to over-brake or over-steer from too much speed.

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery Front-wheel Skids

Front-wheel Skids Driving too fast for conditions causes most front-wheel skids. Other causes include lack of tread on the front tires and cargo loaded so not enough weight is on the front axle. In a front-wheel skid, the front end tends to go in a straight line regardless of how much you turn the steering wheel. On a very slippery surface, you may not be able to steer around a curve or turn. When a front-wheel skid occurs, the only way to stop the skid is to let the vehicle slow down. Stop turning and/or braking so hard. Slow down as quickly as possible without skidding.

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery Over-acceleration.

Over-acceleration. Supplying too much power to the drive wheels, causing them to spin.

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery A skid happens

Over-braking. Over-steering. Over-acceleration. Driving too fast. Over-braking. Braking too hard and locking up the wheels. Skids also can occur when using the speed retarder when the road is slippery. Over-steering. Turning the wheels more sharply than the vehicle can turn. Over-acceleration. Supplying too much power to the drive wheels, causing them to spin. Driving too fast. Most serious skids result from driving too fast for road conditions. Drivers who adjust their driving to conditions don't over-accelerate and don't have to over-brake or over-steer from too much speed.

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery Over-braking.

Over-braking. Braking too hard and locking up the wheels. Skids also can occur when using the speed retarder when the road is slippery.

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery Over-steering.

Over-steering. Turning the wheels more sharply than the vehicle can turn.

2.19 Skid Control and Recovery Correcting a Drive-wheel Braking Skid Stop braking.

Stop braking. This will let the rear wheels roll again, and keep the rear wheels from sliding.

2.17-2.19

Test your knowledge 1. Stopping is not always the safest thing to do in an emergency. True or False? 2. What are some advantages of going right instead of left around an obstacle? 3. What is an "escape ramp?" 4. If a tire blows out, you should put the brakes on hard to stop quickly. True or False? 5. How do you know if your vehicle has antilock brakes? 6. What is the proper braking technique when driving a vehicle with antilock brakes? 7. How do antilock brakes help you? These questions may be on the test. If you can't answer them all, re- read subsections 2.17, 2.18, and 2.19.