When a Car Skids Around a Bend, Which is Safer: FWD or RWD?

SOLO, KOMPAS.com - Cars with front-wheel drive (FWD) and rear-wheel drive (RWD) systems handle differently when losing traction, meaning the methods to correct skidding vary between the two.

In certain conditions, particularly when navigating bends, vehicles can experience oversteer or understeer, making them difficult to control, so drivers must understand the characteristics of each drivetrain system.

So, which is easier to control when skidding: FWD or RWD?

‘Because it’s a front-wheel drive (FWD) car, when the rear wheels skid, just follow the front wheels by maintaining the throttle,’ Sony told Kompas.com recently.

According to Sony, when an FWD car experiences oversteer, the driver can correct it by keeping the throttle steady to realign the vehicle.

In contrast, RWD vehicles require counter-steering and should not be accelerated when the rear begins to slide.

‘When it comes to tyre skidding, FWD tends to understeer, while RWD is more prone to oversteer,’ he said.

‘For RWD, counter-steering is needed during a skid. For front-wheel drive, simply correct the steering,’ Sony added.

Therefore, understanding the characteristics of FWD and RWD vehicles and the correct correction techniques during skids is crucial for maintaining vehicle control and enhancing driving safety.