When your vehicle hydroplanes...

• A. Increase speed to break through water.
• B. Release the accelerator.
• C. Steer sharply to correct.
• D. Apply heavy braking.

Answer: (B)

Hydroplaning happens when a layer of water builds between the tires and the road, so the tires lose grip and you can’t steer or brake effectively. The best response is to ease off the accelerator. Lifting off the gas allows the tires to contact the road again and restores traction without the abrupt forces you’d get from braking or steering hard. Braking or accelerating during hydroplaning can push you further into a loss of control, and sharp steering can cause a skid since the tires aren’t gripping the surface. Once you feel the tires recontacting the road, you can steer and accelerate gradually to resume normal control.