Hydroplaning & Wet Road Driving
Hydroplaning (also called aquaplaning) happens when a layer of water builds up between your tires and the road, and the tires ride on the water instead of gripping the pavement. You lose steering and braking control, often without warning.
- All Drivers
- Commercial Drivers
- New Drivers
What makes it more likely
- Speed: hydroplaning can start at speeds above about 35 mph, and the risk rises quickly with speed.
- Worn tires: shallow tread cannot clear water. Under-inflated or poor tires are worse. See Tire Safety.
- Standing water: puddles, ruts, low spots and the first heavy rain after a dry spell, when oil mixes with water.
- Heavy rain and poor drainage.
- Lightweight vehicles and sudden steering or braking.
Prevent it
- Slow down in rain, especially on highways. Drive well below the limit if it is heavy.
- Keep tires in good condition: check tread depth (replace at 2/32 inch or less, with 4/32 a better target for wet roads) and pressure monthly. See Car Maintenance.
- Avoid driving through puddles and standing water. Drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead where the water is displaced, or in the middle lanes when water collects at the edges.
- Increase your following distance to at least 4 to 5 seconds. See Defensive Driving.
- Turn off cruise control in the rain.
- Use headlights, working wipers and defrosters. See Driving in Rain & Fog.
- Avoid sudden steering, braking or acceleration.
If you start to hydroplane
- Stay calm. Ease your foot off the accelerator. Do not slam the brakes.
- Hold the steering wheel steady and point the car where you want to go. If the rear slides, steer gently in that direction.
- Do not brake hard until you feel the tires grip again. If you must brake, with ABS press firmly and keep pressure on; without ABS, pump gently.
- When traction returns, steer smoothly to a safe spot and slow down further.
If a road is flooded, don't enter. Turn around. See Flooded Roads.
Standards & references
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