What is the first thing you should do if your vehicle begins to skid?

When your vehicle begins to skid, the first action you should take is to take your foot off the accelerator. This is crucial because maintaining or increasing speed during a skid can worsen the loss of control and lead to a more dangerous situation. By easing off the accelerator, the vehicle will begin to slow down, which can help stabilize it and reduce the likelihood of spinning or sliding uncontrollably.

In addition, once you've taken your foot off the accelerator, it's important to assess the situation and make any necessary steering adjustments, rather than making sudden movements that could exacerbate the skid. Managing the throttle is essential because sudden acceleration or braking during a skid can lead to further loss of traction.

This approach allows for better control of the vehicle as it responds to both the steering and the reduced speed, leading to a safer recovery from the skid. It's also important to remember that steering and braking actions should be smooth and gradual rather than abrupt, to maintain vehicle stability.