Hydroplaning is the loss of control you feel when water comes between the road and your vehicle’s tires. When enough water collects on roads during heavy rains, your tires can lose contact and end up gliding. It can lead to a loss of traction and cause vehicles to skid off the road or into each other.
In this guide, we explain:
- What hydroplaning is
- What to do if your car starts hydroplaning
- How to prevent hydroplaning
- How strong rainfall affects hydroplaning
- Whether insurance covers hydroplaning damage
It doesn’t matter the season: heavy rain and wet roads can occur at any time of the year. That means slick roads, limited visibility and yes, hydroplaning.
No matter the weather, having the right auto insurance can give you peace of mind. But hydroplaning can be scary – so it’s important to understand the conditions when it’s likely to occur, and what to do if it happens.
FAQs
What Is Hydroplaning?
Hydroplaning happens when your vehicle loses control in wet conditions because your tires don’t have enough traction on the road. Hydroplaning happens when water on the road’s surface is not sufficiently pushed out of the way by your vehicle’s tires. This causes your vehicle to rise on top of a thin layer of water between your tires and the road. All traction is lost in less than a second, and you have very limited control of your vehicle.
What Should I Do if I Start Hydroplaning?
If you find yourself hydroplaning, don’t panic. Instead, follow these steps:
- Firmly hold the wheel and slow down. Don’t slam on the brakes.
- Steer gently in the direction you’re sliding
- As you slow down and straighten out, keep mirroring the movement with your steering wheel.
- When you feel your tires reconnect with the road, continue to stay alert and drive defensively.
- Pull over safely if you need a moment to recover.
Vehicles with anti-lock brakes and traction control are less likely to spin under hard braking. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, brake gently with a pumping action.
While it can be scary when you lose control of your car, most skids last for only a split second before your car gains traction and you regain control. It’s best to wait it out and stay calm.
How Can I Avoid Hydroplaning?
Hydroplaning can occur on any wet road surface. According to the American Safety Council, the first 10 minutes can be the most dangerous when driving in heavy rain. Here are a few ways to avoid hydroplaning:
- Watch your speed. Slow down and drive carefully when the roads are wet.
- Stay away from puddles and standing water. Keep toward the middle of the road and drive in the tire tracks left by cars in front of you.
- Turn off cruise control. There is a chance that your car will accelerate if you hydroplane, and your reaction time will be slower if using cruise control.
- Take your time. Be cautious around curves and steer and brake with smooth, light touches.
- Be extra cautious at intersections. This is an area where engine oil and water could mix, creating extremely slick spots.
[H2] Is Hydroplaning More Likely in Heavy Rain?
Hydroplaning is considerably more likely in heavy rain, as rapid accumulation of rainwater can flood the road. Significant rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems, creating standing water that comes between your tires and the pavement. You’re also at an increased risk of hydroplaning in the first 10 minutes of heavy rains when dirt and oils are lifted off the road’s surface.
When heavy rains threaten, it’s best to keep in mind driving practices that can help reduce your chances of hydroplaning.
How Can I Prepare My Vehicle for Heavy Rain?
Here’s a list of things to check to help make sure your car is up to the task of driving in wet conditions:
- Tires: Be sure to check your tire pressure at least once a month to ensure your tires are properly inflated. Your car’s proper tire pressure can be found in the owner’s manual as well as on the manufacturer’s sticker typically located on the driver’s side door jamb.
Also regularly inspect your tire’s tread. If your tire has less than 2/32 of an inch of tread remaining, you should replace your tires immediately.
- Brakes: It takes longer to stop when the roads are wet. Be sure your brakes are in good condition by having them inspected regularly.
- Windshield: Consider applying a water-repelling treatment to your windshield, which can dramatically improve visibility. Also, check your wipers to make sure they’re in good condition and working properly. Learn when and how to replace your windshield wipers.
- Headlights and defroster: Both can help with visibility in rainy weather.
- Emergency kit and jumper cables: You never know when they could come in handy. Get a list of what to include in your car emergency kit.
Will My Insurance Cover Hydroplaning Damage?
Damage that occurs because of hydroplaning is usually covered by collision coverage, which pays repair costs when your vehicle is in motion and is damaged in an accident, either with another vehicle or an object.
So, if your car hydroplanes into another vehicle, a ditch or a guardrail, your collision coverage will cover the cost of repairs to your vehicle. Liability coverage pays for the damages to other vehicles, people or property if you are found to be at fault for an accident.
If you want collision coverage, most insurance companies also require you to have comprehensive coverage. This insurance covers damages caused by things such as weather events, vandalism and animals, but does not typically cover accidents caused by hydroplaning.
Terms to Know
- Collision Coverage can cover the cost of repairing your vehicle when it is damaged in a car accident with another vehicle or object up to your policy limits. Collision coverage is optional and a deductible must be met before coverage kicks in.
- Liability Coverage protects you if you are found at fault in an accident. It covers damages to other people and property up to your policy limits.
- Contact Patch refers to the area of the tire that contacts the road at any given time. When a car hydroplanes, water comes between the contact patch and the road.
- Displacement is when your tire tread channels water away to keep contact with the road.
- Traction is the friction that must be kept between the tire and the road to allow for acceleration, braking and effective steering.
