Skids — Kansas Permit Test

Kansas skids are caused when a driver is traveling too fast for conditions, stops too suddenly, or when the tires can no longer grip the roadway.

Every cause on the list is a decision made earlier. The skid is the moment it catches up.

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.

Because a Kansas driver cannot control a vehicle when it is skidding, it is best to avoid a skid in the first place.

Once it is sliding, there is very little left to do. Everything useful happens before that.

As you cannot control a vehicle when it is skidding, it is best to avoid a vehicle skid in the first place.

If a Kansas vehicle continues straight while steering, traction is lost to the front tires, and if the vehicle is moving sideways without additional steering input the rear tires have lost traction.

Which end has let go decides what you do next. The two answers are opposite, so telling them apart matters.

If the vehicle continues straight while steering, traction is lost to the front tires.

If front traction is lost in Kansas a driver eases off the brakes to regain traction and reapplies without skidding, or if the vehicle has ABS applies the brakes fully to gain steering control to the front tires.

The car with ABS wants full pressure; the one without wants less. Doing it the wrong way round makes it worse.

If the vehicle has ABS, apply the brakes fully to gain steering control to the front tires.

If rear traction is lost in Kansas a driver turns the steering wheel in the direction of the intended path of travel and continues to steer and counter-steer until the vehicle is traveling straight.

Steer where you want to go, not where the back end went. Counter-steering catches the swing back.

If rear traction is lost, turn the steering wheel in the direction of the intended path of travel (the direction you want to go) and continue to steer and counter-steer until the vehicle is traveling straight.

A Kansas driver in a skid should continue to look in the direction they want to go and avoid looking into the oncoming lane, so the vehicle does not travel across the centerline.

The car follows your eyes. Looking at the oncoming lane is how you end up in it.

Continue to look in the direction you want to go. Avoid looking into the on-coming lane so that your vehicle does not travel across the centerline.

When a Kansas vehicle begins to lose traction the driver visually looks for open space and does not fixate on the hazard they are trying to avoid.

Staring at the obstacle steers you into it. Finding the gap is the first move, before any pedal.

You must pay attention to where your vehicle can go on the roadway. Do not fixate on the hazard you are trying to avoid.

What causes a skid according to Kansas?

Too much speed for conditions, or stopping too suddenly. Every cause on the list is a decision made earlier. The skid is the moment it catches up. Kansas Driving Handbook, p.74: “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.”