[redpoint5]

Happy to hear the wife is in good condition, sorry to hear about the car.

In reduced traction situations, I usually opt to steer than to brake. The decision is based on whether or not there is a safe path I can take given the low amount of traction. It all depends on how much room you have ahead of the object you are trying to avoid. Just a slight deflection in heading, well in advance of the object to avoid, often results in missing it. If collision or running off the road is unavoidable, braking is advised. There is almost never a situation where both braking and steering is the correct decision.

Think of it in this oversimplified way. You have 100% of whatever tire grip is available to you, no matter how little that amount happens to be. There is a choice to be made about spending that 100% of traction to slow the vehicle down, or to spend 100% of that traction to alter course. The alternative is to do both at the same time, resulting in 50% available to alter course, and 50% to slow down (or some other proportion equal to 100%).

A couple years ago, I was driving the truck down a snowy mountain after harvesting a Christmas tree with my wife, and the tail end lost traction. There was several seconds before a right-hand corner, with an extremely steep and unguarded drop off to the left side if I didn't make it. Immediately I let off what little brake pedal I was using, but the tail was still not compliant and I was counter-steering like mad to regain control. I realized that even the small engine braking on the rear wheels was causing the loss of traction, so I shifted to neutral. Just moments before disaster, the tail hooked up, and I restrained steering effort to the absolute least amount required to make the turn. I swear I used a few invisible extra inches of road to make the corner, but I'm still here. Braking would have sent me over the cliff. Turning too sharp would have blown the corner. Failing to regain rear end compliance would have been the end.

We're not always so fortunate to have a few seconds to sort out a rapidly deteriorating situation though.

Out of curiosity, how did the car arrive at the tow yard instead of anywhere else in the world? I'd rather have it delivered to Felony Flats than let the crooks at the tow yard get their filthy hands on it. Just about the only way that happens is when a vehicle is impounded.