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Read more about How to Keep Your Car from OverheatingDriving in wet conditions can cause several issues, including lowered visibility or the need for longer braking distances. It can also cause your car to hydroplane.
If you’ve ever driven on wet roads or through a puddle of standing water and felt like you didn’t have control of your vehicle, you may have already experienced this. Since this can happen to any driver at one time or another, it’s important to know what to do when hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning or aquaplaning happens when roads are wet. Water reduces tire traction, causing your vehicle to slide or skid. Losing control of your car while hydroplaning can be particularly scary and unnerving, but there are a few precautions you can take to keep yourself safe and remain in control of your vehicle.
Hydroplaning is usually caused by too much water between your tires and the road. This can cause your tires to lose contact with the surface and subsequently lose traction. Some of the contributing factors to hydroplaning include:¹
No matter how safely you drive, hydroplaning can still happen. If your vehicle starts to hydroplane you should follow these steps:²
There are additional ways to keep yourself safe when hydroplaning. Here’s what you should do:
Keep in mind that hydroplaning can occur at any time you are driving in wet conditions. Knowing how to handle it properly can keep you, your passengers and others on the road safe.
When driving in the rain make sure to practice safe driving.
[1] “What Cause Hydroplaning?” smartmotorist.com/hydroplaning (accessed Feb. 18, 2022).
[2] “What to Do When Your Car Hydroplanes,” idrivesafely.com/driving-resources/how-to/stop-hydroplaning/ (accessed Feb. 18, 2022).
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