Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous.
So
much water can build up under your tires
that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road
is
wet
enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it
has little or
no
contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires haven’t much
tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot
of
water
is standing on the road. If
you
can
see
reflections from trees, telephone
poles,
or
other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there
could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn’t
a
hard and
fast rule about hydroplaning.
The
best advice is to slow down when it is
raining.
Some
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Turn on your low-beam headlights
-
not
just
your parking lights
-
to
help make you more visible to others.
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be
especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more
clear room ahead, and be prepared
to
have your view restricted by road
spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires”
in
the Index.)
4-26
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