What is meant by the term "overcorrecting" in driving?

Overcorrecting in driving refers specifically to making excessive steering corrections in response to drifting, which can occur when a vehicle begins to veer off its intended path. When a driver overcorrects, they may react to their vehicle's loss of control by sharply turning the steering wheel in an attempt to correct the vehicle's direction. This often leads to a dangerous situation where the vehicle can start to fishtail or slide out of control because the input is too drastic and not proportional to the speed and direction of the vehicle.

This risky behavior can be exacerbated in conditions where traction is compromised, such as wet or icy roads. The key aspect of overcorrecting is that it involves overcompensating for a minor drift rather than maintaining smooth, controlled steering adjustments that are necessary for safe driving. In contrast, turning the steering wheel towards the direction of the turn reflects a driver’s proper response to a turn and does not involve the excessive correction associated with overcorrecting. Additionally, returning to the original lane quickly and increasing speed to regain control do not encapsulate the concept of overcorrecting and may lead to further loss of control rather than addressing the drift safely.