Hydroplaning 101

Picture this: You are calmly driving down the road, when all of the sudden your car starts to lose control as if it was on ice skates. The only thing is it is just raining, no ice in sight. This was most likely caused by a phenomenon called "Hydroplaning". Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle's tires encounter more water than they can scatter. Water pressure in the front of the wheel pushes water under the tire, and the tire is then separated from the road surface by a thin film of water and loses traction. The result is loss of steering, braking and power control. Hydroplaning is one of the leading causes of fatalities in bad weather. If you find yourself hydroplaning, there are things you can do to help yourself recover. Take a look below and make sure you're prepared.

1. Do not use your brakes. Your first reaction may be to hit your brakes when you start to feel a loss of control. Unfortunately, this is a big no-no. Sudden braking on a wet roadway can cause your vehicle to skid completely out of control.

2. Gently turn your vehicle in the direction it is hydroplaning. Again, this is going to seem like the wrong thing to do, but this will realign your tires in the direction you are heading and help you regain control.

3. Wait to regain control. The driver will be able to feel when he or she has regained control of their vehicle. Too many adjustments too early can sometimes compound the effect.