How to control your car when it starts spinning under wet road condition

[Lemonteh]

I was coming back from Malaysia yesterday on NSH and was followed closely by a Proton Waja so I gave way for it to pass on the right lane. Then it started raining heavily that I could hardly see what was ahead so had to slow down. Then I saw the same Proton Waja first crash its front at the centre barrier, spins a few rounds and while spinning got the car back bumper smashed too. Then suddenly he seemed to gain control and drove to the shoulder of the highway. By then there was debris of car parts all over.

 

Does anyone knows what is the best way to gain control back in such situation when the car start spinning under wet road condition?

[Enzomatrix]

as learn from driving sch, release brakes, turn ur steering wheel in the direction ur car's rear is spinning.

 

 

but when it really happens, how many can do that?

[Ultramega]

Here's how:

 

http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/controlling-skid.php

[Viceroymenthol]

i used to drive a manual transmission rear wheel drive car in the US. the place i was in gets very heavy snowfalls and icy roads every winter so i got plenty of practice with the fishtails and wheelspins and stuff. Imagine "drifting" your car at 20mph on ice, sounds stupid right. When your car starts to "drift", do not hit the brakes, instead take the torque off the wheels by disengaging gear (or put transmission to neutral), and point your steering wheel towards the direction your rear is swinging into. this only works for wet or slippery roads.

 

for dry roads, if you're cornering and your rear is sliding out, put the pedal to the metal and accelerate out of the bend and you should be fine. In Singapore I find that many drivers cannot control their car when they go round a bend, always under or oversteering out of their lane. I soon realised why: I dunno where they learnt this from but the drivers here tend to brake thru a bend, and they tend to lose control of the car more easily when they do that. Do this: brake into a corner, when you reach the apex of the corner, downshift and accelerate out of it. You'll have a smoother and more controlled ride when you do that.

[Zxcvb]

first reaction is to counter steer, maintain the speed or slowly ease the pedal. when you feel the car is about to regain back it's grip, quickly return the steer to the direction you're going. here's a video describing it...

 

 

easier said than done.

Edited May 29, 2008 by Zxcvb

[Nus24]

i think in a real case, it is excessive speed. very diff to recover. but on a cotrol track, there is ample runoff space to counter steer to recover.

[Rskeisuke]

happened to me once many years back when i was a very green driver. rented a proton wira from JB and embarked on a roadtrip to penang with 2 other buddies. we took turns to drive, and unfortunately, during my shift, there was this heavy downpour. the car aquaplaned while doing a slight curve at around 120kph. that was when the "sh!t hits the fan". we spun and crashed lightly on the railing. luckily, the car stayed mechanically sound for us to continue our trip to penang and back to JB where we had to pay for the repair damages.

 

Lousy tyres + poor weather + inexperienced driver = valuable lesson(if never die)

[Nitrous]

By hitting neutral or clutching in u will set the car into a bigger swing, easing off the throttle is a more logical choice.

 

For dry roads, still the same, counter steer and ease throttle, the oversteering car will recover, do not floor the pedal to the metal like wat viceroymenthol said, unless you want to drift on purpose or crash on purpose, of course depending your car has what kind of drivetrain oso.

 

And do not brake thru a bend, especially so if you are travelling fast and its a steep bend. 1.Brake before the corner, downshift before u enter the bend.

2.Maintain throttle till u reach the apex.

3.As exiting out of bend, gradually floor the accelerator.

 

This way u will then have a smoother and more controlled ride.

[Watwheels]

When u see big puddles of water, dun speed over it. Slow down, especially when heavy rain.

 

Dun pretend u'r Michael Schumacher drive very fast, loose control , spin, and dan recover. Things like this is unpredictable. What u saw happened to the Waja driver, he was lucky to walk away, if he side impacted a tree/barrier it would had certainly killed him.

 

Keep your speed down during heavy rain is the best precaution. Dun try and learn all these stuns to get yourself or others killed.

[Punkeyboozter]

"""Nitrous """

^^yeap well said. ease of is the only way. if you blimp the clutch or the brake peddal the car will most likely start swinging the other direction.

Edited May 30, 2008 by Punkeyboozter

[Adrianli]

There is no way to control a spinning car. U are just a passenger until u regain ur sense of direction where the car is pointing.

 

 

I think the other forummers tot that u meant "skidding" instead of "spinning".

[Jeffang]

i remember there's once over 10yrs back, i was driving a van (belong to my friend, and had never drive one before) around 8pm and was going around 70km on PIE 3rd land, near westcoast to jurong, super heavy rain, and i think the van go over a pool of water and my van go spin 360 end up i am in lane 1 and sooooo lucky that no car beside me only when i fully stop then the car behide horn like hell... that was very very lucky, i could be killed...

 

so now my car all got bigger rim and tire, so will be safer :)

 

 

 

  Quote

I was coming back from Malaysia yesterday on NSH and was followed closely by a Proton Waja so I gave way for it to pass on the right lane. Then it started raining heavily that I could hardly see what was ahead so had to slow down. Then I saw the same Proton Waja first crash its front at the centre barrier, spins a few rounds and while spinning got the car back bumper smashed too. Then suddenly he seemed to gain control and drove to the shoulder of the highway. By then there was debris of car parts all over.

 

Does anyone knows what is the best way to gain control back in such situation when the car start spinning under wet road condition?

[Mrlau]

  Quote

Keep your speed down during heavy rain is the best precaution. Dun try and learn all these stuns to get yourself or others killed.

 

Well said.

 

But 9/10 drivers are over confident at their driving skill.....

[Silver_z]

  Quote

I was coming back from Malaysia yesterday on NSH and was followed closely by a Proton Waja so I gave way for it to pass on the right lane. Then it started raining heavily that I could hardly see what was ahead so had to slow down. Then I saw the same Proton Waja first crash its front at the centre barrier, spins a few rounds and while spinning got the car back bumper smashed too. Then suddenly he seemed to gain control and drove to the shoulder of the highway. By then there was debris of car parts all over.

 

Does anyone knows what is the best way to gain control back in such situation when the car start spinning under wet road condition?

 

Close your eyes and say...

 

"Oh GOD! I'm cummmmmiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnngggggggggggg!!!"

 

Just joking!

 

 

Well, like the rest say.... Dun drive so fast when the road is wet. And the thing I would like to add is... If you are going to drive very slow in rain, as you have no confidence in yourself, car or tyre, please keep to the extreme left lane. I came across a car going at 45kph on ECP lane 1 during a rainy day. WTF!

Edited May 30, 2008 by Silver_z

[Silver_z]

1) You say your van went over a hydroplane and spinned.

 

2) You say now safer coz your car got bigger rim and tire

 

I will say.... Good luck!

 

A wider tyre have a higher chance of hydroplaning.

Edited May 30, 2008 by Silver_z

[Throttle2]

Well said.....

 

but same goes for when you are skidding.

 

Both instances mean that your car has lost grip.

You basically cannot "make" grip come back.

I guess you are asking about what to do when grip comes back.

 

for me, I'll iust steer as best to avoid danger, thats all.

[Silver_z]

  Quote

i used to drive a manual transmission rear wheel drive car in the US. the place i was in gets very heavy snowfalls and icy roads every winter so i got plenty of practice with the fishtails and wheelspins and stuff. Imagine "drifting" your car at 20mph on ice, sounds stupid right. When your car starts to "drift", do not hit the brakes, instead take the torque off the wheels by disengaging gear (or put transmission to neutral), and point your steering wheel towards the direction your rear is swinging into. this only works for wet or slippery roads.

 

for dry roads, if you're cornering and your rear is sliding out, put the pedal to the metal and accelerate out of the bend and you should be fine. In Singapore I find that many drivers cannot control their car when they go round a bend, always under or oversteering out of their lane. I soon realised why: I dunno where they learnt this from but the drivers here tend to brake thru a bend, and they tend to lose control of the car more easily when they do that. Do this: brake into a corner, when you reach the apex of the corner, downshift and accelerate out of it. You'll have a smoother and more controlled ride when you do that.

 

Hahaha... same here. The carparks there are so big. Always wait till abt 3am, not much traffic movements, so there will be a nice layer of fresh snow in the Mall carpark. Then start to make crop circles, err... snow circles. Bought a beat up S13 240SX(US$4k) just for doing this every night.

Edited May 30, 2008 by Silver_z

[Gearoil]

For an Auto car..you're gonna be dead meat! ..unless you have F1 traction control!

 

For manual car..quick appropriate response will save your car and yourself and could even make you look 'cool' when others see how it was done!

 

Traction and steering and counter steering is the key to retain control..not too sudden and too much and not too little and too late.

 

Using the gearing is one of the primary way to gain control, with little or no braking at times!

 

It is the feel..for bros who know what I mean..they'll know.

 

But then again...some ppl have the talent for it while others just crash their car even when they think they can save it!

 

So hope it doesn't happen to anyone!