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When roads become perilous, cars can finish up in a pile on the side of the road or careen out of control across the median. The possible causes of a skid are numerous, but it's often the result of a slick road surface. Ice, snow, or water can transform an otherwise safe road into a slip n' slide. Many bad-weather accidents are caused by driver error or unwise reactions. Although managing your vehicle in icy or wet conditions is challenging, some simple techniques can help you stay in control, keep your passengers safe, and avoid damage to your vehicle.

*Preventing a skid*

The best way to control a skid is not to have one in the first place! Here are some tips to help you avoid losing control of your vehicle.

- Keep weather conditions in mind when choosing your speed. Just because you're in a 65 mph zone doesn't mean you have to be going that fast when it's snowing or icy.

- When road conditions are icy or wet, stay alert and concentrate. Mentally review the techniques below so that if you do start to skid, you're prepared and remember to apply the counterintuitive technique to regain control.

- Don't be afraid to pull over to the side of the road if you are worried about your ability to handle a skid. Maybe you just need to breathe deeply for a few minutes and get yourself in a calmer state of mind.

- Slow down before making a turn or rounding a bend.

- Never slam on the brakes or brake hard on a slick road surface.

*Getting out of a skid*

In a sideways skid, your rear end is drifting to one side while your front is pointing straight ahead, also known as "fish-tailing." You'd like your rear end and front end to be pointing the same direction, so this is a problem! Your challenge here is to stay calm and straighten the rear end out, rather than panicking and doing something which will make you go into an even worse fish-tail.

Here's the rule of thumb: slowly turn the steering wheel into the fishtail. This can feel counterintuitive, since most people's reaction is to turn the wheel in the direction they want to go in, which is actually opposite from the direction you're fishtailing! That's why it's so important not to panicknow this technique and practice it in your mind so you'll be prepared for the worst. After you've steered into the fishtail, you should feel your vehicle straightening out. Then, slowly and smoothly straighten out your steering wheel. Whatever you do, don't brake during this maneuver!

This technique will move the rear end back where it belongs and keep

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