Hydroplaning is when your car glides on the surface of build-up water.

NOTHING can be worse than cruising down the expressway when suddenly a downpour ensues and you find yourself losing control and grip of your vehicle. Panic inevitably erupts. In hindsight, all of that could have been prevented for your driving safety and to avoid a road accident.

That feeling on the slippery road, when your car appears to have taken a life of its own, which in turn could result into a road accident, has nothing to do with engine trouble or paranormal activity. It’s actually a scientific term called hydro planing.

Hydroplaning occurs when the car’s tyres no longer have traction on the road because friction is no longer driving it; it is, in fact, gliding on the surface of the built-up water that’s on the road.

It takes several factors for hydroplaning to take effect, like a minimum speed of around 70km/h and higher, wear and tear affecting the tyres, tyre pressure as well as the cubic depth of water on the road.

The water forms a buffer between the road and the tyres; thus you are practically skimming across the surface, much like a hydrofoil, but in an uncontrolled manner.

Well-maintained tyres should not hydroplane in wet weather up to a speed of 70km/h, although worn out or low-pressurised tyres may result in cars hydroplaning even at lower speeds.

The faster you travel (that is, above 70 km/h and above), the greater the risk of your vehicle hydroplaning.

Tyre manufacturers have recognised the dangers of hydroplaning and the importance of driving safety to avoid road accidents.

In the wet climate we live in, with perennial monsoon seasons, you may want to consider specialised tyres like Bridgestone’s Potenza and Turanza as well as Michelin’s HydroEdge tyres.

These tyres are tailormade to combat the factors that lead to hydroplaning and are perfect for both dry and wet weather conditions.

In order to minimise the risk of hydroplaning occurring, increase your driving safety, and avoid road accidents, you should:

• Check your tyre pressure and condition regularly
• Make sure you don’t speed in wet weather
• Not tailgate or follow a faster car’s drift

If hydroplaning occurs, here are some steps you can take
to avoid any immediate danger:
• For manual transmission cars, shift your gear to neutral
• Switch on your hazard lights
• Keep a tight grip on the steering wheel
• Do not brake or accelerate
• Keep a lookout by checking your side/rear view mirror for any
oncoming/nearby traffic or obstacles.