Faced with an emergency situation, drivers are left with very little response time -- especially at today's higher speeds.

At 100 kilometres an hour we cover 30 metres every second. It takes about one-half second -- if we are paying strict attention -- to recognize a problem and start to move the wheel or brake, so we've covered 15 metres before we do anything. At higher speeds we've obviously gone even further.

Last week, we discussed the issue of panic and the likelihood of those with little experience freezing when faced with a challenge at speed. We suggested they practice panic stops and turns in a safe environment to get a feel for the amount of action both required and possible.

Now let's deal with what we actually have to do in a case of a slide or spin. The text books tell us to determine which end of the vehicle has encountered a loss of traction and to steer in the direction that end is headed. We propose there is not actually time to compute all this and react in time to do anything worthwhile. We have found the simplest and most expeditious action is to look where you want to go, release the gas and steer in that direction. That's it. Look where you want to go and steer toward it.

The trick to this is that we steer with our eyes. There is a magical connection between our hands and eyes that results in our steering in the direction we are looking during an emergency. If we lock our eyes on the ditch we will steer directly for it. If we stare at the vehicle in the opposing lane, we will drive toward it.

This natural reaction works to our advantage if we look for an escape rather than stare at the threat.

If you are turning left and the front end of the vehicle loses grip, the tendency is for the vehicle to continue straight when we mean to go left. By coming off the gas, we reduce one of the demands on the tires and shift some weight to the front wheels providing more grip. By looking in the direction we wish to go, at the corner, the natural tendency is to turn the wheel to the left and as our speed drops and traction is regained, that's where the vehicle will go.

If, in a left-hand turn, the rear wheels will lose grip and the vehicle starts to spin with the rear going out and the front pointing not only into the turn -- but continuing past that further to the left and the opposing lane. Easing off the throttle to reduce speed will shift weight to the front tires, which are responsible for steering. Now our eyes should be on the turn, which is now to the right, and we will naturally turn the steering wheel to the right -- in the direction we are looking.

This works whether we are driving a front-wheel-drive vehicle, a rear-wheel-drive vehicle or an all-wheel-drive vehicle. It doesn't matter if it is a tiny little economy car, a stretched limo, a monster pickup or a luxury SUV. The whole issue is one of looking for the safe route, not staring at the problem until we hit it.

It sounds simple and it is -- by taking advantage of human nature and allowing the laws of physics to have their way -- we can instinctively make the proper motions when faced with a skid or loss of control.

Halifax-based Richard Russell

runs a driving school