Hydroplaning, or aquaplaning, occurs when a layer of water builds up between the tires and the road, preventing traction. The situation can be very scary for the driver who has no control, according to Sue Miedl, a driving instructor for Heights Driving School. If one or more of the tires is involved in a hydroplaning incident, the vehicle can lose total directional control and slide into an obstacle or another vehicle.
“Hydroplaning is like a car water skiing,” said Miedl. “Prevention is the best answer to hydroplaning. Speed is the most common cause of hydroplaning. When you see wet pavement, slow down. Everyone is in a hurry these days and everyone wants to go fast. But a car will travel further on a wet road when you are trying to stop.”
There is no known exact speed at which a vehicle will start to hydroplane. So if someone tells you that you are safe at 45 miles per hour or under and that your vehicle won’t hydroplane, that may not necessarily be true.
Proper inflation of tires goes a long way in preventing hydroplaning. An under-inflated tire can deflect inward and prevent the tire tread from helping water run off. Miedl suggested inspecting you tires at least once a month.
Worn tires can also cause hydroplaning. Grooves are cut into a tire to help disperse water from beneath the tire. That creates more friction with the road, which is a good thing. Miedl said to think of “the pattern on tires like the canals of Venice, which move water from one canal to another.” The tread causes the water to leave the surface of the tire.
If your vehicle does begin to hydroplane, Miedl said to “remove your foot from the accelerator but don’t brake.” Keep both your hands on the wheel at 9 and 3 o’clock positions or lower. The vehicle should get through a short hydroplaning experience and find its gripe.
“The car slows down because you aren’t accelerating,” said Miedl. “It goes back to a water skiing comparison. When the boat slows, the skier sinks. In this case you can lesson the effect. Go slower when it’s raining or you see water on the road. You might not get there as fast, but you’ll get there.”