What should a driver do in a vehicle without ABS during a front-wheel straight-line skid?

In a vehicle without Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) during a front-wheel straight-line skid, pressing and releasing the footbrake at rapid intervals, often referred to as "pumping" the brakes, is the correct technique. This action helps to regain traction by preventing the wheels from locking up, which can happen if the brakes are applied continuously during a skid. When wheels skid, steering control is lost, and the vehicle may go in the direction it is skidding.

By pumping the brakes, the driver allows the wheels to regain grip on the road surface during the brief moments when the brakes are released. This technique can be particularly effective in helping to bring the vehicle back under control and aligning it with the desired path. It is crucial to balance braking and steering input to navigate out of the skid effectively.

Steering into the skid, for instance, is a maneuver used when managing oversteer, whereas applying the handbrake slowly could lead to a further loss of control in a front-wheel skid, as it may inhibit traction even more. Accelerating to regain control is generally counterproductive in a skid situation, as it can exacerbate the loss of control.