When did you drive on a slick road and skidded? You encountered hydroplaning even if you didn’t lose total control. Weather patterns can shift abruptly during summertime, delivering severe rainstorms. As a result, visibility might be severely hampered, and considerable amounts of precipitation can accumulate on our roads. Speed, insufficient tire tread, and standing water all contribute to hydroplaning. When water on the road leads your tires to lose touch with the road, this is known as hydroplaning. Because of the loss of contact, steering and braking are no longer possible. Lets us look at the several ways to avoid hydroplaning.

Reduce Your Speed

According to most automotive safety specialists, hydroplaning will likely happen at more incredible speeds than 35 miles per hour. Slow down significantly as fast as the first droplets strike your window. In heavy rain or windy circumstances, riding five to ten miles slow than the posted speed limit is advised.

Check Your Tires

Ensure that the tire layer is in decent form and that tires are adequately filled when conducting assessments. The greater the chance of hydroplaning, the lower the tire pressure and the narrower the tread. Deeper tire channels disperse water as you drive through it, improving traction. On all roads, but especially those submerged or ice, rotating and upgrading tires keeps you safer.

Avoid Using Cruise Contol on Wet Roads

When the road is slick and wet in the summertime, turn off the cruise control. If the car hydroplanes when using cruise control, the wheels will increase speed instead of slowing down. You may lose all control. Furthermore, when using cruise control, people prefer to keep their feet further back from the pedals, which increases the reaction rate if they lose control.

If You Hydroplane, What Should You Do?

If you are involved in a hydroplane, do the following;
When you’re trying to get out of a hydroplane skid, the first thing you should do is take your foot off the gas and wait it out. Do not slam on the brakes or attempt to steer. Before your vehicle regains traction, most hydroplane-related skids last only a fraction of a second.
If you must break when you roll on water, do so gradually until the situation is resolved. Detach the clutch as well if you have a manual transmission.

If you stomp on the brakes or tug on the steering wheel, you risk losing even more control. It’s advisable to hold off on braking until you’ve exited the skid.

In case you own anti-lock brakes and need to brake to avoid an accident, brake naturally. If your vehicle lacks anti-lock brakes, lightly pump the brake pedal. Gently maneuver the car in the direction you want it to go. As you regain traction, you may need to correct the car’s path with minor steering wheel motions on a few occasions, but don’t wheelspin.

Hydroplaning is a scary situation since you lose control of your vehicle, especially if you’re traveling at freeway speeds, on curving routes, or in traffic. Being informed with driver safety knowledge is your best protection from weather-related infractions.