Icy roads in Bellingham? Here’s how to turn out of a skid
Bellingham and Whatcom County crews routinely plow and salt main roads during periods of inclement weather. But there are still icy spots where your vehicle can lose traction and slide out.
The Bellingham Herald spoke with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl to help put together these tips for avoiding a skid and turning out of one.
Drive cautiously
“Drive so that you don’t get in a skid, to begin with,” Dahl said in a telephone interview with The Herald.
Don’t drive if you don’t have to. If you must drive, do so slowly. And drive within your skill set, Dahl told The Herald.
“One of the fundamental goals of driving is to maintain control of your vehicle,” Dahl said. “So you shouldn’t be there, to begin with.”
But sometimes that’s not possible and even cautious, responsible drivers may still end up in a skid, according to Dahl.
Practice in the car you drive every day
Find a safe place to go, like an empty parking lot close to home, and learn the skill before it happens in an emergency situation.
Otherwise, you likely won’t remember what to do in the moment, according to Dahl.
Fundamentals of skid recovery
If you do find yourself in a skid, the key is to let off the throttle, steer in the direction you want to go and keep both hands on the wheel.
Don’t slam the brakes — that can cause the wheels to lock up, making the skid worse.
