Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle’s tires skim across a pool of standing water instead of touching the road. You know it’s happening when your car feels like it’s sliding and you can’t steer, which can be quite frightening.
Most drivers don’t know how to avoid hydroplaning until after it happens to them. But by then, it could be too late.
What Causes Hydroplaning?
When it rains, the water mixes with the oil on the road to create an incredibly slick surface. As your tires roll, they must push water out of the way to remain in contact with the road. If they can’t do this fast enough, they end up riding on top of the water instead of gripping the road—a phenomenon known as hydroplaning.
What Steps Can You Take to Avoid Hydroplaning?
Luckily, there are some things you can do to decrease your risk of hydroplaning:
Reduce Your Speed in Wet Conditions
When you drive fast, your tires don’t have enough time to clear away water. Even at speeds as low as 35 mph, new tires can lose some contact with the road in just a few centimeters of water.
Wet roads contribute to nearly 1.2 million traffic crashes each year. To stay safe in wet weather, slow down and give yourself more time to stop.
Maintain Your Tires
Your tires are the only part of your vehicle that touches the road. As such, keeping them in good condition is paramount.
Follow these tire-related best practices to prevent hydroplaning:
- Check your tread depth regularly
- Keep your tires filled to the correct pressure level
- Get new tires when your current set begins showing signs of wear
- Consider getting special rain tires if you live in an area with a lot of precipitation
These steps can help ensure that your tires will serve you well on wet roads and lower your chances of a vehicle accident.
Avoid Standing Water
Don’t drive through puddles if you can safely go around them. What looks like a small puddle might hide a deep pothole or enough water to make you hydroplane immediately. During heavy rain, motorists can experience hydroplaning caused by water building up in certain lanes or spots with poor drainage.
Follow the Tracks of the Vehicle Ahead
According to the Federal Highway Administration, roads that don’t drain well may cause more hydroplaning. However, when you drive on wet roads, the cars ahead of you can offer a key safety advantage by pushing away water and creating a slightly drier path.
Driving in these tracks can help you avoid hydroplaning. Remember to keep a safe distance to allow sufficient reaction time, especially behind commercial vehicles.
Turn Off Cruise Control When It’s Raining
When you use cruise control and start to hydroplane, your vehicle might try to maintain your speed by accelerating, making the problem worse. With cruise control off, you’ll likely naturally lift your foot from the gas pedal when you feel the car start to slip. In this way, turning off cruise control could help you respond faster if you begin to lose traction.
Turn Off Lane Assist When It’s Pouring
Newer cars with steering-assist systems often have trouble detecting lane lines in heavy rain. If your car starts making strange maneuvers during a downpour, it’s best to just turn these systems off and steer manually until the roads dry out.
Staying Safe on Wet Roads
The first step in learning how to prevent hydroplaning is understanding how it works. This knowledge will prompt you to drive more carefully on wet roads. You’ll pay more attention to your tires, be more mindful of your speed, and watch the road ahead more closely. Applying these hydroplaning safety tips may reduce the risk of losing control when the roads get wet.
Contact our Car Accident Lawyers at McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers for Legal Help With Your Case
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McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers – Austin, TX Office
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