Being on the highway doing 50-60mph and then suddenly finding yourself hydroplaning out of control is nothing anyone wants. When your tires start riding on top of the water on the road rather than firmly to the road’s surface, hydroplaning occurs. You can quickly find yourself with no control when your vehicle starts to hydroplane. Being out of control in a vehicle of any size at those times is terrifying and dangerous. Today, we at Citywide Towing Service would like to offer some tips to prevent hydroplaning and also what to do if you start hydroplaning to help you avoid accidents.
What Things Can You Do to Avoid Hydroplaning?
1) Speeds Should be Reduced. Hydroplaning most commonly occurs above 35mph according to the experts. Simply reducing your speed when it is raining or wet can help significantly. Take your time when it’s raining or wet out and avoid suddenly increasing your speed to pass other cars.
2) Routinely Balance & Rotate Your Tires. Tires keep your vehicle connected to the road and driving smoothly. A regular part of your vehicle maintenance should be regularly checking your tires, balancing them, and rotating them.
3) Invest in High-Quality Tires. Invest in good tires if you frequently drive and live somewhere where it rains a lot. Regardless of where you live, invest in high-quality tires is never a bad investment.
4) Do Not Use Cruise Control in the Rain. Though cruise control is beneficial in many applications, using it when it is raining or wet is a hazardous mistake. Adding valuable seconds to the recovery process comes from having cruise control enabled when your vehicle starts to hydroplane.
5) Large Pools of Water Should be Avoided. Resist driving through a big puddle on the roads, though it can be hard for some to keep the inner child at bay. You significantly increase the chances of hydroplaning in your vehicle blasting through big pools of water.
How Do You Regain Control After Hydroplaning?
1) Lay Off the Accelerator. Lift off the gas as soon as you notice your vehicle start to hydroplane. Never slam on the brakes. You risk sliding off the road out of control if you apply heavy breaking while you are hydroplaning. Because you slammed on your brakes for no reason, the last thing you want to do is crash.
2) Carefully Turn into the Slide. Experts recommend turning the wheel the same way you’re sliding, though it can feel counterintuitive. To gain control of the steering, it helps to realign your tires with your direction of travel.
3) Wait for the Wheels to Regain Traction. When you regain traction with the road, you will immediately notice. Avoid overreacting, swerving, or braking excessively, though it can be troubling. You’ll be able to correct your steering, once your tires make contact with the road surface below the water.
4) Be Patient. It can take a minute to recover after hydroplaning. Pull off the highway and take a few minutes to compose yourself before resuming your journey as soon as it’s safe to do so.
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When you need a tow, whether you have been in an accident or a disabled vehicle in Dallas, TX, call in the professionals of Citywide Towing Service for towing and roadside assistance services.
