Rain, sleet or snow. Our roads can get very slippery in the winter. Flip flops are no exception. But are you supposed to depress your clutch when you lose grip? And do you have to use a different slip technique when driving an electric car? We sent our reporter on a course and explain to you step by step how best to handle such an emergency. “It is recommended to always install new tires at the rear.”
A cold winter day in December. The temperature on the thermometer is -6 degrees Celsius. Icicles hang from the mirror of my car, winter boots are a must. The perfect day to take a skid course. We opt for training Slipway: “The largest driving skills center in Belgium”. Instructor Jense will guide me through the slippery course and he is very clear: “Actually, everyone in Belgium gets their driver’s license as a gift.”
Why that is so, he explains to me in a theory lesson of one hour. “In Belgium we do learn how to switch gears and how to park correctly. But we don’t learn how to deal with dangerous situations. Think of a sudden loss of grip on the road, but also of an obstacle that you suddenly have to avoid. These are all reflexes that you really have to cultivate. We repeat an exercise several times.”
But enough talking. We will be on the track for the next two hours. Although it is not the intention that we will immediately slip.
How do you perform an emergency stop?
Jense wants to teach me something else first. “Learning to skid is obviously an important skill, but coming to a stop is equally essential in winter weather. Therefore, I would like to start with the emergency stop. You drive up, and when I say ‘stop’, you slam everything.” And the following three rules are very important:
1. Step on both pedals: “The idea is that you depress both the brake and the clutch. That has two reasons. Firstly, it ensures that the car cannot stall. If your car comes to a standstill, many auxiliary systems fail. Your braking distance may then become longer, you can still steer very badly and your car may start to skid. In addition, it is also better for your spine. If you only brake with one leg, an accident can cause serious back injuries. Your back is pushed back diagonally into the chair in the event of a blow. Do you drive automatically? Even then it is important that your left foot continues to rest on the platform, because of the possible injuries.”
2. Look in your rearview mirror: “You need to know not only what is happening in front of you, but also what is behind you. For example, you can prepare for the impact of a car behind. An upright sitting and steering position is essential to prevent injuries such as whiplash.”
3. Continue to push your pedals firmly: “We see that many people quietly release their pedals after a while. That’s because we’re used to braking ‘comfortably’ in most situations, and we often feel like we’re already standing still. That reflex has to go, and you really have to learn to push your pedals as hard as possible. That way the nose of your car goes down, and that’s better if you hit a victim.”
How do you slip?
After a dozen intense emergency stops, it’s time for the real work: we’re going to skid. The skid track gets wet, and Jense sits down next to me. When I hit the road and drive about 30 kilometers per hour, Jense pulls the handbrake unexpectedly (never do this at home). The car begins to skid, and now it’s my job to get the car back into its normal lane. Again three rules are very important.
1. Do not use the brake: “It is often a startle reflex, but never brake. Braking hard will cause your wheels to lock, causing you to lose control of the wheel even more. Do you drive hybrid or electric? Then release your gas gently. Some cars brake automatically through the battery when you release the gas. And of course you want to avoid that.”
2. Look where you want to go: “Many people only look at danger out of panic. And as a result, they end up driving against a pole or against a house facade. It is much better to look for a way out and steer towards it as soon as possible.”
3. Depress your clutch: “The main reason you originally slipped was because of too high a speed. By pressing the clutch, you can slow down a bit without braking effectively.”
“Place your tires correctly”
After two hours of sliding fun and a lot of fallen cones, the course is over. But before I leave for home, Jense would first like to impress me. “The techniques we have seen today can only be applied at low speeds below 50 kilometers per hour. If you start skidding on the highway, it’s a whole different story. Then there is aquaplaning. A phenomenon where the tires of your car start to float on the water. And then it is not a skid course, but the correct placement of the tires that is very important.”
It is very important that you always put the newest tires at the back when changing tires. New tires can drain more water.
So what exactly do you need to know about the tyres? “Well, with aquaplaning you have two scenarios. Or your front tires will float, and you will be rudderless. Or your rear tires will float, and you will start to skid in earnest. The best case scenario is actually the first. You may be rudderless, but a highway is almost always straight. The chance of an accident will be the smallest there.”
“It is therefore very important that you always put the newest tires at the back when changing tires. New tires have more tread. So they can drain more water. So if you put the newest tires at the back, your front tires will start to float first. And that is, as said before, a lot safer. All you have to do is release your gas and you may be able to steer again after a few seconds. Not ideal, but still better than skidding.”
You already know perfectly well what you learn in a skid course, but of course you want to try it out yourself. So what does that cost? “The most chosen course is the half-day (3.5 hours). You perform emergency stops, learn to avoid obstacles and you are allowed to skid. Total price for this is 150 euros.” You can also choose to only skid and perform emergency stops. The course lasts 2 hours and costs 99 euros.
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