South Carolina Driver's Permit Practice Exam

If the rear end of your car starts skidding to the left, what should you do?

1. Steer to the right

2. Steer to the left

3. Apply the brakes

4. Accelerate

The correct answer is: Steer to the left

When the rear end of your car skids to the left, the correct response is to steer in the direction you want to go, which is to the left. This action is often referred to as "steering into the skid." By doing this, you help to regain control of the vehicle and align the front wheels with the back wheels, which is crucial in recovering from a skid. Steering to the left allows the front of the vehicle to follow the direction of the rear, helping to correct the skid. Additionally, maintaining a steady grip on the steering wheel while not overreacting by turning too sharply is important. Other responses, such as applying the brakes or accelerating, would typically worsen the situation. Applying the brakes can cause the vehicle to lose further traction, and accelerating could also lead to a loss of control during a skid. Steering to the right in this scenario would misalign your vehicle’s direction relative to its rear end, potentially leading to more instability.