Rain Driving: Hydroplaning Prevention & Visibility Management

Rain makes road surfaces slippery, especially as the first drops fall. With more rain, tires make less contact with the road. If there is too much water or if you are going too fast, your tires may ride on top of the water, like water skis. This is called hydroplaning. When this happens, control becomes very difficult. Make sure you have good tires with deep tread, and slow down when the road is wet.

Rain also reduces visibility. Drive slowly enough to be able to stop within the distance you can see. Make sure your windshield wipers are in good condition. If your wiper blades do not clean the windshield without streaking, replace them.

In rain, try to drive on clear sections of road. Look ahead and plan your movements. Smooth steering, braking and accelerating will reduce the chance of skids. Leave more space between you and the vehicle ahead in case you have to stop. This will also help you to avoid spray from the vehicle ahead that can make it even harder to see.

Avoid driving in puddles. A puddle can hide a large pothole that could damage your vehicle or its suspension, or flatten a tire. The spray of water could obstruct the vision of adjacent motorists and result in a collision, cause harm to nearby pedestrians or drown your engine, causing it to stall. Water can also make your brakes less effective.

Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds up between your tires and the road surface, causing you to lose contact with the pavement. This typically happens at speeds above 50 km/h on wet roads. The risk increases with worn tires, shallow tread depth, and standing water on the roadway.

To prevent hydroplaning, maintain proper tire pressure and ensure adequate tread depth. Tires with insufficient tread cannot channel water away effectively. Reduce speed significantly in wet conditions, especially through areas where water tends to accumulate. Avoid sudden steering inputs, acceleration, or braking that could break traction.

If you begin to hydroplane, ease off the accelerator and hold the steering wheel straight. Do not brake suddenly or turn sharply, as this can cause you to lose control completely. Wait for your tires to regain contact with the road surface before making any steering corrections.