If you have been residing in the UK for years, then you may already be familiar with its weather now. Regardless of the ongoing season, you never know when the next downpour will be that will fill the roads with standing water. An increase in water levels also increases the threat of aquaplaning.
To prepare for it, you must first understand it and learn how to prevent it from happening to you.
What is Aquaplaning
Aquaplaning, also referred to as Hydroplaning, occurs when a layer of water breaks contact between the tyre and the road surface, causing the tyre to lose grip on the surface. This loss of grip and traction results in the driver losing control of the moving vehicle, rendering him unable to brake, accelerate or even steer. It is a terrifying experience and has led to numerous road hazards in the past.
The tyre tread possesses grooves that not only provide traction while cornering but also disperse the water on the road and prevent it from getting below the tyre. However, if the volume of water on the road is higher than the volume of the tyre tread, then there will be an excess amount of water that the tread will be unable to disperse, resulting in aquaplaning.
Aquaplaning mostly affects the front wheels of the vehicle. As the rear wheels trail the first wheel, they largely remain unaffected by the wet surface. Braking will become really challenging as they are biased to the front wheels. The results are even worse for front-wheel car drivers.
What to do in case of Aquaplaning
When your vehicle aquaplanes, you will feel the steering becoming lighter, and engine revs increase. The back end of your vehicle may even start drifting sideways; commonly referred as 'fishtailing'. In case, your car starts aquaplaning, do not panic and simply follow the following steps.
Turn off the cruise control mode if you have it on.
Don't mash on the brakes and keep a steady hold of the steering wheel.
Gently ease your foot off the gas pedal.
As the vehicle decelerates naturally and begins to gain surface traction; apply the brake pedal slowly to reduce the speed and bring it to a halt.
What to do to prevent Aquaplaning from happening
There are some precautionary steps you can take to avoid aquaplaning. Here are few tips you must follow:
Assess weather condition before you drive, especially if you are planning a long distance drive. If it starts raining while you are on the road, reduce your speed and be on the lookout for any deep patches of water in front of you. Always drive slowly in wet conditions.
Check the condition of your tyres in wet conditions. They must be adequately inflated with proper tread depth. Even though the minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm, experts recommend keeping the tyre tread at 3mm at least.
If you have another car in front of you, follow its tracks at a safer distance. The car in front of you will have dispersed some of the standing water and so will significantly reduce the risk of aquaplaning.
During turns, lower your driving speed and don't change the direction drastically. Keep the steering wheel steady and do not forget to switch off cruise control mode.
Conclusion
It is imperative you use top quality tyres with optimum tread depth and proper pressure. Roberts Tyres provides tyres from the best brands that are reliable and deliver excellent performance. The Tyres Greylees car drivers must opt for are offered by Roberts Tyres based in Sleaford.
If you have any more tips and recommendations pertaining to driving in wet roads, let us know in the comments below.
