We all know that April showers bring May flowers, but do we know how to navigate these April showers properly? Hydroplaning happens when your car’s tires spin on top of standing water. Even a little bit of after-shower road dampness can be enough to cause conditions for hydroplaning. As long as you know how hydroplaning works, it can be easily managed!
To prevent hydroplaning, here are some helpful steps to follow. Always steer clear of any standing water in the road to limit exposure to the wet roads. Drive slowly and avoid using cruise control to allow your tires a quick response time. Your tire quality is essential to surviving a bad case of hydroplaning, so make sure your tires are properly replaced, rotated, and balanced regularly. If you live in an especially rainy area, look into high-quality tires that are designed for hydroplaning prevention. Regardless of where you live and how experienced a driver you are, sometimes it is unavoidable.
If you find yourself in this situation, it is easily remedied with simple fixes. Take your foot off the accelerator and do not use your brakes! Braking will only cause your car to skid. Turn your steering wheel into the direction your vehicle is hydroplaning so your tires will realign in the travel direction to recover control over your steering. Once you feel a connection between the tires and the road, it will be obvious, and you will be able to steer out of the water. If you feel it’s necessary, pull over and take a few breaths to regain composure. Remember, this can happen to anyone and everyone. Keep our tips on preventing hydroplaning handy to refer back to from time-to-time. We want you to stay safe on the roads!
Source: driving-tests.org