How To Control Aquaplaning

Driving through puddles or even heavy rain can cause your vehicle to begin to "aquaplane". In other words, the tires of your car literally "skim" across the top of the water, much like a water ski. This is because the treads, or grooves, in the tires can not disperse the water quick enough, allowing the tire to ride on top of the water instead of cutting through it.
Generally, there are two factors that contribute to your aquaplaning, both of which you have control over.

• The first is the condition of your tires (including tire pressure). If they are worn badly, where the tread or groove depth is very shallow, the tires will begin to ride on top of the water very easily.
• The second factor is speed. The faster you go, the less time the tires have to disperse the water from beneath it. At a certain speed, no matter how good your tires are, you will begin to aquaplane.
• Also contributing could be that some roads, which have ruts running along where the tires of all the vehicles have passed, combined with poor drainage, are especially susceptible to causing cars to aquaplane. Try to avoid driving in these ruts by moving over just slightly within your lane.

The worst thing about aquaplaning is it takes you by surprise. You can just be driving along, when all of a sudden your car begins to skid or slide just like you're on ice. In fact, you have about the same amount of control as driving on ice. So, what do you do?

• Just like driving on ice, do as little as possible. I know that doesn't sound like very good advice, but think about it.
• If you brake, it will make the skid or slide even worse.
• Step on the gas - accelerate - and it will make things worse.
• The best advice is, very slightly, ease off the gas pedal - gently. And then keep the front wheels pointing straight ahead - even if it means driving towards something you don't want to.