What is the first action you should take when your car starts to skid?

When your vehicle begins to skid, the first thing you should do is take your foot off the gas pedal. This action helps to reduce the speed of the car and allows for better control. By easing off the accelerator, you give the tires a chance to regain grip on the road surface. Maintaining or increasing speed in a skid can make the situation worse, as it can lead to a loss of control.

While other actions can be helpful depending on the specific circumstances of the skid, the priority is to stop accelerating. Shifting into neutral could lead to a loss of control depending on the situation, braking hard can cause more skidding, and turning the steering wheel before managing speed can result in oversteering or further loss of control. Therefore, removing your foot from the gas pedal is the safest and most effective initial response to regain control during a skid.