Hydroplaning happens when your tires lose contact with the road surface due to a layer of water, causing you to slide. If your vehicle starts to hydroplane:
Do not brake suddenly or yank the wheel. Sudden moves can make the skid worse.
Ease off the gas pedal. Gently take your foot off the accelerator to start slowing down. Let the car decelerate naturally.
Steer straight. Hold the steering wheel steady in the direction you were going. If the car is sliding, it may start to drift – you can make gentle steering corrections in the direction of the skid (much like correcting a regular skid) but do not make big turns.
Keep calm and wait for the tires to reconnect. As the car slows, you should feel the tires regain grip on the road. Hydroplaning usually only lasts a moment until you slow enough.
If you need to brake and you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), brake gently. The ABS will pulse and help prevent a full skid. If you don’t have ABS, it’s even more important not to brake until you feel traction return.
The key is to ride it out with minimal inputs – let the car regain traction. Hydroplaning can be very scary, as your steering may feel light or unresponsive for a second or two. But it’s important not to panic. Don’t slam the brakes, and don’t jerk the steering wheel. Just ease off the accelerator and keep the car as straight as you can.
Once you’ve regained control, you should slow down and drive more cautiously – hydroplaning is a sign you’re going too fast for the current wet conditions or that you need better tire tread. Remember that even good tires can hydroplane at high speeds in water – usually if you go over about 50 mph on a very wet road, the risk increases. So after an episode, slow down and be mindful of puddles.
In summary, if you hydroplane, ease off gas, avoid braking, steer straight, and let the car slow to regain traction. Then continue carefully.
