What happens if the front wheels lock or lose traction during a braking skid?

When a vehicle experiences a braking skid due to the front wheels locking or losing traction, the primary outcome is that the vehicle skids straight ahead. This occurs because, unlike a rear wheel skid which can cause the back of the vehicle to swing around, a locked front wheel results in the vehicle continuing on its current path of travel. The driver effectively loses the ability to steer while the front wheels are skidding, preventing the vehicle from turning or responding to steering inputs.

In this situation, it's essential to understand that maintaining control during a skid involves understanding how traction is distributed across the wheels. When the front wheels lock, the rear wheels may still have traction, but the inability to steer means the vehicle maintains its trajectory rather than veering off course to the side or spinning. Thus, the result is a straight-line skid as the vehicle continues to move forward until traction is regained or stopping distance is reached.