Yep! And the instructions they give you don't really help too much, do they?
"Steer in the direction of the skid." -- Duh! If I wanted to go in that direction, I wouldn't be worried about the skid!
But there is Physics involved. Once your tires are locked and sliding, you cannot stop effectively, and you cannot steer at all. So turn them in the direction of the skid so they can begin to rotate again, and then apply steering and braking gradually until you resume the correct direction of travel.
This takes time -- and that's why it's important to slow down -- to give yourself more time to react and get out of trouble.
It makes more sense, and comes more naturally, once you've done it a few times. It can even be worthwhile to go to a safe place to practice, before you have to undergo the real-world test of driving in bad conditions.
Yah...we lived at the top of a hill in Central Utah when I was growing up. I learned how to drive in the snow on that hill. And it's one of those things one never forgets. Like riding a bicycle.
I went outside just now, and for some reason, I was surprised when I saw green things instead of snow. Go figger. :o|
The goodwife said that in driver training in Sweden they'd go out on the lakes in winter to practice.