What is hydroplaning?

When you drive through water, tire treads displace the water to ensure contact between your tires and the road itself. However, sometimes the water can overwhelm your tires’ ability to displace the water. Water can get between the tire and the road and break contact. This causes your car to begin skidding across the surface of the water.

Road and weather conditions

Heavy rain and storms can create situations where water accumulates in the street. As water builds up on the road, its depth and distribution can increase the likelihood of hydroplaning. Poorly maintained roads have cracks and uneven surfaces that can allow water to pool more easily, creating the conditions that make hydroplaning more likely to happen.

Tire condition and maintenance

Worn-out tires with insufficient tread are less effective at channeling water away from your vehicle’s contact patches. This can heighten the chances of hydroplaning.

Similarly, you should ensure your tires are inflated to the specified amount. Correctly inflating your tires helps ensure that they have proper contact with the road. An underinflated tire will struggle to remove water from under your tire due to the diminished pressure to the center of the tire tread, according to Tire Rack. Properly maintained tires can lower the chances of hydroplaning even in poor conditions.

Excessive speed

Hydroplaning can happen while driving anywhere beyond 35 mph for most standard vehicles, according to Priority Tire. But the probability of hydroplaning increases as you drive faster. This is because, at higher speeds, your tire has less time to successfully displace water from underneath it, increasing the chances of the tread being overwhelmed.

By understanding why hydroplaning occurs, we can begin to see how to reduce the chances of it happening through proactive and reactive measures. Here are a few ways you can help prevent hydroplaning from happening as you drive.

Slow down and drive mindfully

The biggest and easiest adjustment you can make to reduce the chances of hydroplaning is to slow down when it is wet outside, especially when you observe standing water. Driving below 35 mph can reduce the risk of hydroplaning dramatically, according to Priority Tire.

Avoid sudden movements such as abrupt braking or sharp turns, which can destabilize your vehicle. Driving slow and steady can maximize your chances of maintaining traction.

Finally, where possible, you should avoid driving through standing water or puddles. But you should not avoid standing water if doing so would require you to drive erratically or make unsafe maneuvers. Just drive through them slowly. If you encounter water that is six inches deep or more, you should find another way to drive, as this is deep enough to touch the bottom of most passenger vehicles and can cause your vehicle harm according to Weather.gov.

Turn cruise control off on wet roads

You should never use cruise control while it is raining or driving on wet roads according to DrivingTests.org. If you begin hydroplaning, deactivating cruise control (if you haven’t turned it off) adds another step in slowing down your vehicle, increasing the time to regain control of the vehicle.

Keep your tires properly maintained

Making sure that your tires are in a state of good repair is vital for numerous reasons, and one of those is reducing the chance of hydroplaning. Hydroplaning can occur if tires have less than 1/16th tread according to Priority Tire.

Check if your tires have adequate tread life left, and if they do not, replace them with high-quality tires. Beyond that, making sure your tires are inflated at the recommended level and conducting regular tire rotations, can help you maximize traction on the road, according to DrivingTests.org.

If you live in a place where rain is common, consider investing in tires that are specifically designed for handling rain such as all-weather tires or, if you live in a colder environment, winter tires says Priority Tire.

Recognize and avoid high-risk situations

Above all, practice awareness of your surroundings when you are driving. If you have to drive through standing water, make sure that you slow down, and if you can avoid areas where water is more likely to accumulate in inclement weather, such as the outer lanes, do so safely.

Even with all precautions and care taken, you can still find yourself in a situation where your car begins hydroplaning. This can be scary, and without knowing how to handle it, you can risk making a bad situation worse. Understanding how to respond before you’re in this situation can mean the difference between a safe recovery and an accident.

Stay calm and avoid sudden reactions

The first and most important rule during a hydroplane is to remain calm. Slamming on the brakes or jerking the steering wheel can worsen the situation. The goal is to ride out the hydroplane. You cannot force your way out of the situation.

Take your foot off the accelerator

Take your foot off the accelerator as soon as you begin to hydroplane. Never use the breaks while you are hydroplaning. This can cause your car to skid completely out of control, according to DrivingTests.org.

Keep your hands on the wheel

The car should decelerate once you take your foot off the accelerator. While you ride out the hydroplane, keep your hands on the steering wheel. Steer your vehicle, gently in the direction you want to move in, without making sudden movements or jerking the wheel, as this can make the situation worse.

Wait to feel your tires reconnect with the road. Continue to guide your car out of the hydroplane until you feel the tires reconnect with the road.

Afterwards, take a moment for yourself and check the car

If you feel shaken up, pull over, if and when it is safe to do so. Continue on your journey once you feel ready.

It’s also important to inspect your vehicle to see if there are any obvious reasons why you lost traction to begin with. Make sure you have adequate tread health on your tires and check for uneven tire wear, cracks, punctures, or other deformities. If you notice anything amiss, make a plan to fix the issues to help you reduce the chances of hydroplaning in the future.

Hydroplaning is a serious safety risk that all drivers should be aware of. By recognizing its causes, adopting preventive measures, and understanding how to respond calmly during a hydroplaning incident, you can reduce the likelihood of an accident in wet conditions.

Remember, making sure your tires are in a state of good repair, adjusting your behavior during rain, and staying vigilant can help you be safe on the road.