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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly one million vehicular accidents in the United States occur during wet weather. Hydroplaning, also known as aquaplaning or planing, is the cause for several of these accidents. Hydroplaning occurs when a film of water on a pavement's surface causes a vehicle's tires to lose contact with the pavement.

There are two types of hydroplaning. The first, known as partial or viscous hydroplaning, occurs when the tire of a vehicle loses partial contact with the pavement. The loss of contact pressure causes the friction between the tire and pavement to reduce. When this happens, there can be a loss of control of the car as well as increased stopping distances. The second type is full dynamic hydroplaning which occurs when the tire and pavement connection is unable to rid the water fast enough for the tire to stay connected to the pavement. When this occurs, a driver will have difficulty maintaining directional control of the vehicle which can result in an accident.

When caught in a hydroplaning situation a driver should:
* Stay calm and not touch the brakes or turn suddenly as this may throw the car into a skid.

* Slow down by lifting their foot slowly off of the accelerator pedal. If driving a standard shifting vehicle, engage the clutch and let the vehicle coast until the hydroplaning stops.

* If braking is needed, pump the brakes gently. If you have an anti-lock brake system (ABS) then brake normally and your car's computer will mimic the pumping action.

According to Defensive Driving Rule 29 found at www.roadtripamerica.com, "Many different factors can affect the speed at which a tire will hydroplane, such as water depth, speed, weight of the vehicle, width of the tire, depth of the tread and tread patterns, but all tires will hydroplane with the right combination of speed and water depth."

In order to decrease the possibility of hydroplaning a driver needs to do the following:
* Maintain good tire tread as balding tires can increase your risk of hydroplaning significantly.

* Maintain proper tire pressure. Vehicle owner manuals will list the proper tire pressure for your vehicle.

* Reduce your speed by one third when driving in the rain and turn off your vehicle's cruise control. With the cruise control option engaged, your vehicle will actually increase its speed when the drive wheels lose traction.

In addition to always wearing a seat belt, a defensive driver must adjust their speed for the road conditions which will help to avoid a hydroplaning situation. Drivers should also check the weather forecast before taking to the road and be aware of potential weather hazards. If you are driving through a rainstorm, turn on your headlights and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. Drive smoothly, avoiding jerky starts and stops which can lead to loss of traction on a wet pavement. Don't forget to check your windshield wipers for wear and tear as poor visibility could obscure puddles in the roadway. As drivers we can't always avoid wet and dangerous road conditions but with a little knowledge and a calm head, an accident from hydroplaning can be avoided.

Learn more about this author, Barb Hopkins.
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