35.20. While driving which vehicle can increasing speed help to eliminate rear axle skidding?
UAПід час руху на якому автомобілі збільшення швидкості може сприяти усуненню занесення задньої осі?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about safe driving on a slippery road and preventing loss of control. It concerns a situation when, during a turn or maneuvering, the rear axle starts to skid, and the driver must choose actions with the steering wheel and accelerator pedal that will help stabilize the trajectory. Such knowledge directly affects safety: an incorrect reaction (sharp steering movements, braking, or untimely acceleration) can quickly lead to a spin or collision.
The question tests understanding of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the choice of safe speed and vehicle control (specifically, the requirements of points 12.1 and 12.3, as well as the concept of "safe speed" in the terms of the Traffic Rules). Within the theoretical exam, it is important to know not only the general rule of "driving carefully," but also the difference in behavior between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles during a skid: the drive axle and torque distribution determine whether adding throttle can help stabilize the vehicle.
The correct answer is for a front-wheel drive vehicle: moderate, smooth increase in power (along with steering into the direction of the skid) allows the front driving wheels, which are usually better loaded, to "pull" the car in the direction set by the steering wheel and reduce the rear end sliding. In contrast, in a rear-wheel drive car, increasing speed during a skid usually worsens the situation, because additional power is delivered to the rear wheels, which have already lost traction, and the skid can intensify. In practice, this means: knowing how the drive system works helps you make the right decision in a split second and maintain control of the vehicle.
Clause 12.1
When choosing a safe driving speed within the established limits, the driver must take into account the road conditions, the characteristics of the cargo being transported, and the condition of the vehicle in order to be able to constantly control its movement and drive it safely.
Clause 12.3
If a danger to traffic or an obstacle that the driver can objectively detect arises, he must immediately take measures to reduce speed up to stopping the vehicle or safely bypassing the obstacle for other road users.
Clause 1.10 (term "Safe speed")
Safe speed is the speed at which the driver is able to safely control the vehicle and stop it in time within the visible distance of the road.
That is, the correct answer is "On a front-wheel drive vehicle," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the driver must choose and apply such a speed/control mode that ensures constant control of movement and safe driving, and in the event of a skid in a front-wheel drive vehicle, moderate addition of traction can help restore controllability and stabilize the car.
Rear axle skidding occurs when the rear wheels lose traction and the rear part of the vehicle starts to slide sideways, most often when turning on a slippery surface. At this moment, it is important not just to 'turn the steering wheel,' but to take an action that will restore traction to the wheels and stabilize the trajectory.
In a front-wheel-drive vehicle, the front wheels are the driving wheels. When the driver gently accelerates, it is the front wheels that begin to pull the car forward in the direction set by the steering wheel. If, during a skid, you turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid and simultaneously smoothly increase the throttle, the front wheels 'pull' the car out of the skid: the vehicle straightens out, and the rear part stops overtaking the front. Additionally, this is aided by the fact that there is usually significant weight (the engine) on the front axle, so the front wheels are more likely to maintain traction and can stabilize the movement.
In a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, the situation is the opposite: the rear wheels are the driving wheels. If you press the accelerator during a skid, the rear wheels receive more power, and on a slippery road this easily leads to even more wheel spin. Then the rear part starts to slide even more, and the skid intensifies instead of disappearing.
A telling example: on an icy turn in a front-wheel-drive car, the rear part slides outward. Smoothly adding throttle together with turning the steering wheel in the direction of the skid allows the front driving wheels to 'pull' the car onto the desired trajectory. However, in the same situation, if you sharply accelerate in a rear-wheel-drive car, the rear driving wheels are even more likely to lose traction, and the car spins out.
Therefore, the correct answer is 'In a front-wheel-drive vehicle,' because during gentle acceleration, the front driving wheels with better traction 'pull' the car in the direction of steering and help stabilize the skidding rear axle.