Fishtailing is a common word you may hear from the mouth of drivers or experience sometimes while driving a car or truck. It is a condition in which the rear end of your vehicle slides back and forth. How do you stop fishtailing? Mostly it happens to the rear wheels when they lose traction on the surface of the road. It can happen not only due to bad driving experience but due to some hidden conditions such as driving on black ice that causes fishtailing even if you drive perfectly. The problem can happen with both front and rear wheels but more common to the rear wheel.
A fishtailing can be dangerous as it causes accidents if the driver may lose their control over the vehicle. In extreme conditions, a single bout of fishtailing can completely turn around your car or can launch it towards running traffic. It is mandatory to repair the technical issue as soon as possible, but in a case, while you are driving, you can use given tips to prevent an accident or lose.
Some common reasons behind fishtailing:
Weather conditions such as ice, water, and snow which reduces the vehicle traction on the roadway.
If a driver drives the car at high speed
If a driver brakes suddenly
It can also happen when turning poorly
Tips to prevent fishtailing:
Fishtailing is a scary condition for every driver. In such conditions, drivers should drive the vehicle slowly when driving on a slippery road.
Do not brake suddenly
A driver should take turns carefully and slowly
Try accelerating out of turn to raise traction
If you are driving on roads where black ice is common, avoid driving early morning and in the late evening as black ice is too dense in these timings.
Some preventive measures that you can take under special circumstances:
The first step is to turn the wheel in the direction the tires are skidding. This puts the rear end back in line with the front tires, allowing the car to continue in a straight line. In other words, if your rear end comes over toward the driver side, turn the wheel to the left. Conversely, if the back tires go the way of the passenger’s side, correct the steering wheel to the right.
The sooner in the skid that you start turning the wheel, the less severely you will need to turn. It’s vital to remain calm. If you panic and yank the steering wheel hard in the direction of the skid, you may just cause the rear to fishtail to the other side, which leads to a cycle of continuous flailing down the road, sometimes ending in an unintended 360 donut. Obviously, you want to prevent this potential hazard to your own life and that of other drivers.
The other important aspect of correcting a fishtailing car is that you should slow your speed and avoid stomping on the brakes. When you hit the brakes it sends the energy that propels the car to the rear, which will send the vehicle further sideways, or into a complete turnaround.
You may have learned about all the safety precautions in your driving school. Now it’s up to you how you drive or run your vehicle. You can continue a safe journey or can meet with an accident due to little ignorance. Use above mention safety tips if your vehicle causes fishtailing to avoid dangerous accidents and avoid an increase in your Car Insurance.
