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conditions.

If you feel the whole car drifting off to one side or the other, but the car remains pointing forward, simply take your foot off of the accelerator. This often results in enough speed reduction to prevent any further loss of traction and will allow you to quickly regain control of your vehicle. When you feel the drifting stop, slowing steer yourself back into the center of your lane. If you don't regain control within 2-3 seconds then, and only then, apply your brakes VERY LIGHTLY AND ONLY MOMENTARILY IN A LIGHT, PUMPING FASHION WHILE YOU CONTINUE TO SIMULTANEOUSLY PERFORM ANY NECESSARY CORRECTIVE STEERING, until your vehicle slows down enough to allow you to regain control.

One warning regarding braking during these situations: if your brakes are worn unevenly or out of adjustment, the less worn brakes will engage first. If this uneven wear is distributed one side worn more than the other side, it could result in your car's rear end fish-tailing because one side of your car will be slowing down faster than the other when you apply the brakes. So, be aware of this possibility and be prepared to have to continue with corrective steering possibly a little longer. The faster you are driving when any corrective steering measure becomes necessary due to fish-tailing on a slippery road, the more likely you will need to also apply the brakes after taking your foot off of the accelerator making the corrective actions more hazardous. So, please slow down when driving in slippery conditions, and try to avoid driving at all if possible.

Learn more about this author, Keith C. Milne.
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