First of kudos for that calm response. I must admit that took me by surprise as I usually get different results when trying to talk to local people about that topic (even worse with bikers...).
The way you write it now sounds much more mature than what the previous post made me expect.
I know I'm a preacher when it comes to safety in traffic topics but I see too many crosses at the streets marking fatal accident sites. It's especially bad when you learn that some people died because one had to act like an idiot. It's all fun and games and then someone dies.
So many of these accidents would have been avoidable.
OK, you seem to have understood that and I hope you'll heed it during your driving career and stay accident free from now on.
BTW doesn't the Focus have ABS and ESP? If so skidding is almost impossible from what I hear.