Hydroplaning can be a frightening and unexpected experience for drivers, but you can lower your risk by keeping an eye on your tire tread and practicing a few safety tips.
From reduced visibility to dealing with frantic drivers, driving in heavy rain is already a hassle—but adding in the chance of hydroplaning adds in a whole new level of stress. While it’s not always avoidable, knowing the ins and outs of hydroplaning can lower the possibility of it happening to you.
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Start earning nowWhat is hydroplaning?
Hydroplaning—also known as “aquaplaning”—happens when water gets under your vehicle’s tires and separates them from the surface of the road. This causes your car to skid, making it impossible to take control of the car. This can happen whether it’s a thin film of water, standing water, or a massive puddle.
When this happens, you generally lose the ability to steer or brake, creating a hazardous situation for you and any surrounding drivers. It’s not only dangerous, but it’s also scary!
What causes hydroplaning?
Your chances of hydroplaning could increase or decrease depending on the following factors:
Low tread depth. Your tire’s tread depth is the biggest factors in the likelihood of hydroplaning. The more worn your tires get, the higher your chances of hydroplaning. Even if your tires lose 2/32nd of an inch of tread, your tire can’t provide enough grip to stay on the road in wet conditions.
Poor road conditions. Hydroplaning occurs on any wet pavement, but the possibility goes up if the water depth increases to 1/10th of an inch or more. If a road’s surface has any dips or grooves, or if it doesn’t have proper drainage, you’re at a higher risk of hydroplaning.
High speeds. Your tire treads are made to remove water from under your car, which gets more difficult at higher speeds—especially when there’s a lot of water on the road. Depending on other factors, hydroplaning can occur even at lower speeds.
Low vehicle weight. Heavier vehicles tend to fare better against hydroplaning than lightweight cars. This is because their weight adds more force to the tires, making it easier for them to displace the surface water.
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How to minimize your risk of hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is a terrifying experience, but you may be able to avoid it by following these handy tips to minimize your risk.
Slow down
While hydroplaning can occur at lower speeds, it’s less likely if you’re driving 35 mph or slower. In fact, it’s best to slow your speed by five to 10 miles per hour the second the rain starts to fall. If you must drive significantly under the speed limit to stay safe, turn your hazards on and stay in the farthest right lane.
As a rule of thumb, the heavier the rain is, the slower you should go. You should also avoid any sudden accelerations, hard braking, or sharp turns.
Don’t use cruise control on wet roads
Using cruise control in wet conditions could increase your risk of losing control of your vehicle. If you start to hydroplane with cruise control on, your tires will begin to spin faster, leading your vehicle to fishtail. This can also lead to loss of steering control.
MORE: Tire wear patterns and what they mean
Inspect your tire tread regularly
Inadequate tire tread is one of the largest contributors to hydroplaning, so stay on top of the game by inspecting your tire tread once a month. If your tread is less than 2/32nd of an inch, it’s probably time for you to replace the tire.
One quick and easy way to measure your tire’s tread depth is by using the penny test. Start by placing a penny in one of the grooves with Lincoln’s head facing the bottom of the groove. If your tread doesn’t reach or cover part of Lincoln’s head, your tread is too low.
Keep your tires inflated
Keeping an eye on your tire pressure is another crucial factor in reducing your risk for hydroplaning. If your car’s tires aren’t inflated enough—or they’ve been overinflated—they won’t have enough traction to sufficiently displace water from under the tires.
Avoid driving through standing water
Hydroplaning can happen on any wet road surface, but it’s much more likely in standing water. It’s nearly impossible to tell for sure how deep a puddle is, especially when you’re driving quickly down the road. If possible, switch lanes or maneuver safely around any standing water you see.
If you do drive through a puddle, gently tap your brakes a few times to make sure they’re working well afterwards.
Leave space between vehicles
It’s important to allow for some extra room between you and the car in front of you when you’re driving. First, it will reduce your risk of a major accident if you do hydroplane. Since visibility is reduced, additional space allows extra braking distance to avoid any issues.
Secondly, having more space will allow you to see the tracks of the car in front of you. Those tracks indicate that some surface water has been dispersed, so try to drive in the tracks to reduce your chance of hydroplaning.
Minimize your risk of expensive repair bills with new car insurance
Even if you’ve taken every precaution against hydroplaning, accidents still happen—and while you can’t plan when they’ll happen, you can be prepared for the aftermath with a solid car insurance policy.
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