A clear understanding of the causes of skidding should help you to avoid skidding in the first place.
Observe
Skidding is more likely in bad weather conditions and on slippery road surfaces. Some of the obvious and less obvious hazards to watch out for:
- snow, ice, frost, heavy rain
- wet mud or damp leaves
- cold spots in shaded areas, under trees, on slopes or hill (i.e. micro climates)
- a shower of rain after a long dry spell
- dry loose dust or gravel
- oil, diesel or fuel spillages – common at intersections, service stations
- worn road surfaces that have become polished smooth
- metal grills and covers, tar bandings, road paint (especially wet)
- concrete (may hold surfac water and become slippery when wet)
- road surface with cobbles – rare but still found
- ice and other changes of the road surface on bridges – may be more slippery than surrounding roads
The risks of the above hazards are accentuated at corners and intersections because you are more likely to combine braking, accelerating and turning in these situations.
Anticipate and plan – adjust your riding to the road conditions
- Leave plenty of room for maneuvers, reduce your speed and increase the distance you allow for stopping to match road conditions (remember, on a slippery surface your stopping distance can take many times the normal distance to stop)
- Use the throttle and lower gear to reduce speed on a slippery road
- Use a higher gear in slippery conditions to avoid wheel spin
- On a slippery surface aim to brake, change gear and corner as smoothly as possible, so that tire grip is not broken
