What Is Hydroplaning and How Can You Avoid It?

Inclement weather conditions can make driving difficult and sometimes even scary. You may lose control of your car and hydroplane if there’s a lot of water on the road, so know what to do to stay safe. Read on and find out what hydroplaning is and how you can avoid it.

The Basics
Losing control over your vehicle while you’re driving can be scary, and hydroplaning is an example of how this can happen. Hydroplaning occurs when enough moisture gets under your tires that it separates your vehicle from the road and causes your car to lose traction. This affects your ability to steer and brake the vehicle, so it can easily lead to an accident. You may be at an especially high risk for hydroplaning if you haven’t replaced your tires in a while, which is one of many reasons it’s so important to stick to your maintenance schedule.

Risky Conditions
A good way to avoid hydroplaning is to avoid driving when the road conditions aren’t at their best, and you can do this by checking the forecast whenever you’re planning on heading out. Unfortunately, there are occasions where you’ll have to push through and drive in inclement weather, in which case you should be ready for the seasonal obstacles that you might face, and this might include hydroplaning.

Avoiding Hydroplaning
You don’t have to avoid driving whenever it rains for fear of hydroplaning if you know how to prevent it from happening. Proper tire inflation and rotation, proper braking, and controlled turns can all reduce your risk. You can also stay away from puddles and stick to inner lanes to make sure you don’t hydroplane.

If you hydroplane and end up in an accident, you can call Barnett’s Towing at (800) 722-2302. We are a tow truck company in Tucson and we’re happy to help you get back to safety, so check out our website to learn more about us.