Which Roads Are Prone to Skidding?
2 Answers
Roads that have just started to get wet from rain, high-speed braking, and roads after snow, ice, or heavy fog often experience severe accidents such as rollovers and collisions due to loss of control caused by vehicle skidding. The factors that cause vehicle skidding are as follows: 1. Mechanical imbalance: Deformation of the front axle (I-beam) or looseness of the kingpin and its bushings; looseness of the tie rod ball joints; improper adjustment of the toe-in for vehicles with a double tie rod structure; looseness of the wheel hub, or fracture of the side beam, etc. 2. Improper adjustment of the wheel brake valve: If during braking, any wheel does not lock or the rear wheels lock while the front wheels do not, as well as differences in initial braking speed and adhesion coefficients, or braking deviation, severe skidding can occur.
I have driven for many years and experienced various road conditions, finding that wet roads after rain are particularly prone to skidding, especially at turns on urban main roads or newly paved asphalt roads, which become as slippery as if oiled when wet. Rural dirt roads are even more dangerous—light rain turns them muddy, causing tire grip to plummet. Skidding is also common on winter ice- and snow-covered sections, with bridges freezing faster due to faster air circulation, requiring slower speeds when crossing. Additionally, sharp curves at highway exits, if designed too abruptly, can make wheels lose traction easily in the rain. It’s advisable to maintain proper tire tread depth, slow down when encountering such roads, avoid sudden braking or sharp steering, and from personal experience, driving slowly is the safest approach.
