What should you do first if your vehicle begins to skid?

When your vehicle begins to skid, the most effective first action is to steer the vehicle in the direction you want to go. This technique helps to regain control of the vehicle. When skidding occurs, the tires lose traction with the road surface, and applying the brakes can worsen the skid by causing further loss of control. Steering into the skid allows the wheels to realign with the direction of travel, helping to stabilize the vehicle as traction is regained.

Choosing to accelerate or shift into neutral would not address the immediate loss of control caused by the skid. Accelerating might cause the vehicle to slide further, while shifting into neutral disconnects the engine's power from the wheels, which could lead to a loss of control as well. Therefore, guiding the vehicle back on track by steering appropriately is the most crucial step to take.