How do you avoid hydroplaning?

Answer 1

Drive slower and make sure your tires have sufficient tread to channel the water away. Worn tires is the main cause of hydroplaning.

Added: Hydroplaning is caused by a loss of traction from your vehicles footprint. A vehicles footprint relates to the contact surface of the tires, usually only 12 inches per tire.

To avoid hydroplaning you should reduce your speed, anticipate where problem areas of the road are, avoid pooling water if possible, shuffle steer the vehicle, do not apply the breaks, steer into the skid, and do not panic.

In situations of wet or icy weather drivers should reduce their speed to a manageable rate. This enables drivers to observe problems before they start.

If possible, drivers should avoid pools of water, which at high speeds could cause traction loss.

If a driver needs to input steering corrections it should be accomplished by shuffle steering. Shuffle steering is accomplished by positioning the drivers hands at a 4o'clock and 8o'clock position on the steering wheel, instead of what is taught in Drivers Training 10o'clock and 2o'clock. The driver should use their fingertips to shuffle the steering wheel between their hands which allows the vehicle to rock slightly, redistributing the weight of the vehicle, and keeping ones hands and arms away from a potential air bag deployment.

The driver should stay off the gas and off the breaks and steer into the skid.

Most importantly, do not panic, as this could cause over correction.