How To Handle Hydroplaning

With the devastating flood resulting from Hurricane Ida rolling through New York, we thought it would be fitting to go over the topic of hydroplaning. Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle’s tires start riding on a bed of standing water. When this happens, your car will lose traction as the tires spin on the water rather than making contact with the road. You can lose all control of the vehicle’s steering, acceleration, and braking in severe cases. While hydroplaning can be a frightening conflict, there are several things you can do to stop hydroplaning from happening. Here are a few words of advice for preventing and correcting hydroplaning.

If you ever encounter a hydroplaning situation, please proceed to do the following steps:

• Lower your speed by releasing your foot off the gas pedal  – Please avoid braking as it can cause skidding.
• Correct your steering (if possible)
• Pause and wait for tires to make contact with the road
• In severe circumstances, pull over or exit the highway if you need a moment to destress. 

Hydroplaning can be a frightful experience, but there are ways to make your car safer during rainy weather. Feel free to give us a call or visit Scruggs Automotive for all your automotive servicing needs. Our experienced technicians can help make suggestions and installations for tires that can overcome hydroplaning.