How to Avoid Hydroplaning & What to Do if It Happens

The word hydroplane refers to the sliding of a vehicle's tires on a wet road or highway. When this happens, it's easy to lose control of the car and wind up in an accident. So with rainy weather here in Duluth, Georgia, it's a good time to learn what you can do to avoid hydroplaning, as well as what to do in a hydroplaning situation.

When weather conditions are poor there's already a higher chance of accidents occurring, so it's smart to be prepared and to take preventative measures that will help reduce the risk of collisions. In this blog post, we'll provide you with useful information that will help decrease your chances of hydroplaning, and we'll outline exactly what to do if your car slides on a wet surface.

What can I do to avoid hydroplaning?
Here are 10 tips that will help reduce the likelihood of hydroplaning.

1. Drive slower and in lower gear if you own a stick
2. Don't brake hard
3. Don't make sharp and/or quick turns
4. Drive in the tracks left by vehicles ahead of you
5. Avoid outer lanes, where water tends to collect in large puddles
6. Keep away from standing water whenever possible
7. Rotate and align tires according to manufacturer specifications
8. Replace tires according to manufacturer specifications
9. Check to make sure tires are not under- or over-inflated
10. Don't use cruise control in rainy weather

When is hydroplaning most likely to occur?
While it might seem logical to think that hydroplaning is most dangerous when roads are really wet and it's been raining for a while, the opposite is actually true. It's usually within the first 10 minutes of light rain that hydroplaning is most hazardous. When it's been raining longer and heavier, oil residue that's laying on the surface of the road is more likely to wash away. However, when a light rain has just started, the rain mixes with the oil residue, which makes for a very slippery environment. It's especially dangerous for drivers traveling over 35 mph.

What do I do if my car hydroplanes?

1. Don't panic. You'll have to maintain your composure to regain control of the situation.
2. Do not accelerate suddenly or slam the brakes, especially if you have an older vehicle that's not equipped with anti-lock brakes.
3. When a skid occurs, ease your foot off the gas pedal until you feel the road again. Usually doing this and waiting out the skid for a few seconds, while keeping the steering wheel straight, will help you regain control quickly. If you have a manual transmission, remember to disengage the clutch too.
4. If you don't quickly regain control and need to brake, gently pump the brakes if you don’t have an anti-lock brake system, or brake as normal (but gently) if your car does have anti-lock brakes.
5. If you need to get off the road, never jerk the wheel. Instead, look for an open, empty space, keep a firm hold of the steering wheel and gently turn in the direction you want to travel.

For more details about hydroplaning and additional information about how to handle hydroplaning incidents, as well as info regarding the "penny" tire-tread test, check out the video below.