What should a driver do if they start to experience a skid?

When a driver begins to experience a skid, the safest and most effective response is to get off the brakes and avoid accelerating. When skidding, the vehicle has lost traction, and applying hard brakes can cause the wheels to lock up, making the skid worse and potentially leading to a loss of control. Similarly, accelerating could also exacerbate the skid by increasing speed without regaining traction.

By simply releasing the brakes, the driver allows the wheels to regain some traction. This action can help the driver to regain control of the vehicle. It's important to steer gently in the direction they want the front of the vehicle to go, using smooth and subtle movements to avoid overcorrecting, which can lead to further instability.

Options that involve hitting the brakes hard or swerving sharply can contribute to losing control further. Coasting without touching the steering wheel does not provide any corrective action either, as it disregards the need to guide the vehicle back onto its intended path.