Skids, pavement drop offs and collisions

Key points

1. With ABS, press the brake as hard as you can and keep the pressure on.

   Source: Handbook p. 54

   “Press on the brake pedal as hard as you can and keep applying pressure.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 54

2. If an animal runs in front of you, brake and steer to miss it.

   Source: Handbook p. 54

   “If an animal runs in front of your vehicle, you should brake and steer to miss the animal.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 54

3. Skids come from going too fast for conditions, stopping too suddenly, or tires losing grip.

   Source: Handbook p. 54

   “Skids are caused when you are traveling too fast for conditions, when you stop too suddenly, or when the tires can no longer grip the roadway.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 54

4. In a skid, release the brake or gas and look where you want to go. With ABS in a straight skid, apply steady brake pressure.

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “Release the brake or accelerator and look where you want to go. If you are skidding in a straight line and your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes, apply consistent pressure to the brake in order to slow the vehicle.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 55

5. Without anti-lock brakes, do not brake hard. It locks the wheels and worsens the skid.

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “If you do not have anti-lock, do not brake hard. This will only lock your wheels and make the skid worse.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 55

6. In a sideways skid, turn the wheel in the direction the back of the car is skidding.

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “If you begin to skid sideways, you need to turn the wheel in the direction the back of the vehicle is skidding.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 55

7. The steering wheel is the most important control during a skid.

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “The most important vehicle control to use during a skid is the steering wheel.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 55

8. If your wheels leave the pavement, slow down gradually, then turn quickly back onto the road when safe.

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “If your vehicle leaves the paved road, slow down gradually, when safe to do so, and turn quickly back onto the pavement.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 55

9. After a non-injury crash, Kentucky law says to move the vehicles to the shoulder.

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “In accordance with Kentucky law, when involved in a non-injury accident move the damaged vehicles to the shoulder of the roadway.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 55

10. If no officer investigates a crash with over $500 damage, file a written report with State Police within 10 days.

    Source: Handbook p. 55

    “Any person who is involved in an automobile collision resulting in any property damage exceeding $500 in which an investigation is not conducted by a law enforcement officer, shall file a written report of the accident with the Kentucky State Police within ten (10) days of the collision.”
    Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 55

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Kentucky practice test

1. 1. When a vehicle begins to skid in a straight line and has anti-lock brakes, what should the driver do?

   1. Accelerate firmly to restore traction
   2. Pump the brakes rapidly until the vehicle stops
   3. Turn the steering wheel sharply toward the shoulder
   4. Release the accelerator and apply consistent brake pressure
   Show answer

   Release the accelerator and apply consistent brake pressure. A straight-line skid in a vehicle equipped with anti-lock brakes calls for releasing the accelerator and applying consistent pressure to the brake pedal while looking toward the intended path. Pumping the brakes is the procedure described for a vehicle without anti-lock brakes, so that choice reverses the manual's equipment-specific guidance. Sharp steering can worsen the loss of control, and acceleration adds power while the tires are already struggling to grip the roadway. Keep the eyes aimed where the vehicle should go, hold steady brake pressure, and make smooth steering corrections as traction returns.

2. 2. If a vehicle begins skidding sideways, which way should the driver turn the steering wheel?

   1. Opposite the direction of the rear skid
   2. In the direction the back of the vehicle is skidding
   3. Straight toward the nearest lane line
   4. Toward the vehicle's parked position before the skid
   Show answer

   In the direction the back of the vehicle is skidding. During a sideways skid, steering in the direction the rear of the vehicle is moving helps the front line up with the back. As the vehicle begins to straighten, the driver must turn the wheel back to prevent a skid in the opposite direction. The opposite-steering choice can create overcorrection, and aiming for a lane line or a former parked position has no connection to the vehicle's actual movement. Watch the intended path, make measured corrections, and continue adjusting left or right until control is fully recovered.

3. 3. Why must speed be reduced on a wet roadway?

   1. Rain affects only vehicles with worn tires
   2. The posted limit automatically becomes a minimum speed in rain
   3. Wet pavement improves braking, so speed should be increased
   4. Slippery conditions can reduce tire grip and cause a skid or hydroplane
   Show answer

   Slippery conditions can reduce tire grip and cause a skid or hydroplane. Water reduces the tires’ contact and grip, increasing the chance of a skid or hydroplaning. A posted number does not guarantee that speed is suitable for current pavement conditions, and wet roads do not improve braking. The worn-tire choice is too narrow because even a properly maintained vehicle must adapt to water. Ease off the accelerator before the vehicle loses traction, and avoid abrupt braking or steering. A strong cue is visible water on the roadway: adjust speed early, while the tires still respond normally.

Source: the Kentucky Driver Manual, Section Nine: Emergency Situations and Avoiding Crashes. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.