Causes of Hydroplaning and How to Overcome It
When the rainy season begins, all four-wheeled vehicle users are expected to be more careful. This is because the road surface conditions will often be wet and slippery.
Such conditions are usually referred to as aquaplaning. The following will discuss how to overcome it.
Causes of Hydroplaning
Aquaplaning or also known as hydroplaning is a term that describes a state where the tires of a four-wheeled vehicle float above the road surface because they cannot displace standing water.
If likened, it is as if your beloved vehicle is driving on the surface of the water. This causes the car tires to lose full traction on the asphalt.
This is certainly very dangerous, considering that many accidents are caused by cars skidding because they cannot control their speed on slippery road surfaces.
However, this condition is not only caused by the rainy season. It can also occur at any time when there is a separating layer between the road surface and the car tires.
Regardless of the condition, car tires ideally should always be in contact with the road surface when driven. This way, the driver can ensure that the car can be controlled well.
However, when your beloved vehicle's tires experience aquaplaning, acceleration, braking, and turning maneuvers become ineffective.
So what are the causes? Actually, such conditions are influenced by various factors, one of which is the vehicle's speed being above average while on a wet road surface.
If you accelerate the vehicle too fast, then automatically the lift force of the car will increase, causing the pressure of the tire surface against the standing water to decrease.
Read also: The Rainy Season Has Arrived, Ensure Your Car Windows Stay Clear with These Tips
Another cause is the weight of the vehicle being lighter. This usually occurs because you are driving the vehicle quickly. The faster you drive, the more easily a vehicle that is not equipped with a good aerodynamic design will lift.
This can make a four-wheeled vehicle have a lighter weight than usual.
Not only that, if your vehicle's tires are already worn out or unfit, then such conditions cannot be avoided. As you know, hydroplaning occurs because the car tires cannot perfectly break the standing water on the road surface.
Therefore, in facing such conditions, it is necessary to have tires that are still usable. If you want to avoid such conditions, it is advisable to always check the condition of the tires to see if they are still usable or already worn out.
The design of the tire tread can also affect the vehicle's experience of this condition on slippery roads. For example, the use of semi-slick tread will not be able to handle slippery roads.
If all components of your car, especially the tires, are in good condition, but you still experience this condition, it could be due to the depth of the standing water.
This causes the tires to be unable to make direct contact with the road surface, making it easy to skid.
Read also: Five Things to Avoid When Driving in Rainy Conditions
How to Overcome Aquaplaning
As previously explained, aquaplaning or hydroplaning is a condition where car tires cannot accelerate well on wet or slippery roads.
The first cause of this condition can occur when you accelerate the vehicle at high speeds. The only way to overcome it is to slightly reduce your speed when crossing wet roads.
Typically, the speed you can control when on wet road surfaces is between 40 to 60 km/h.
Before traveling, it is also advisable to always check the tire pressure of your car. Ensure that the air pressure in the tires is neither too low nor too high, to provide comfort while driving.
If during your vehicle inspection you find that the tires are worn out or no longer suitable for use, then you can replace them with new tires.
Also, ensure that your vehicle's tires have the ability to displace standing water effectively to avoid skidding or other incidents.
While driving on wet or slippery roads, you can also follow the path of the vehicle in front. The vehicle that leaves that track can reduce the amount of water you pass through.
However, you must also maintain a safe distance from each vehicle to anticipate if the vehicle in front stops suddenly.
But how do you handle being stuck in a hydroplaning condition? When you find yourself in such a situation, try not to brake suddenly.
This can cause your vehicle to lock up and easily skid. Additionally, try to reduce the pressure on the gas pedal to slow down the vehicle.
Driving a four-wheeled vehicle is not just about getting in; you are also expected to be alert when in undesirable conditions.
One of them is when the roads are wet and slippery, which requires you to be more cautious. However, the condition of skidding tires is not only due to slippery roads, but there are other factors that you need to understand.
