If you drive you are probably familiar with the term aquaplaning, a phenomenon that describes the gradual loss of contact between the wheel and the ground. This happens for several reasons. In the first place, because there is some type of substance on the surface that causes the car wheel to not adhere well to the surface, such as a large amount of water or oil. The second factor that affects is the speed of movement of the vehicle. The higher the speed we have and the thicker the film of water or oil found on the road, the more likely it is that a car will suffer aquaplaning.
Can aquaplaning be avoided in a car?
Yes, we can indeed avoid it. The main advice we can offer you so that aquaplaning does not become a danger that can cause disastrous accidents is to keep calm while driving. Also, if you follow our tips below, you will avoid losing control of the vehicle and causing an accident with irreparable consequences. If you want to know how to avoid aquaplaning in a car, be sure to read the following post.
What do you need to avoid aquaplaning in a car?
To avoid aquaplaning in a car we are going to need:
- Have a car.
- Keep calm at all times.
- Have a surface nearby with a good film of water where you can practice. It is recommended that you do it in an isolated place where you cannot collide with other vehicles or cause accidents.
- Follow the instructions that we are going to give you below.
Instructions to avoid aquaplaning in a car
Step by step to avoid aquaplaning in a car:
- First of all we have to be aware of the situation of the road we are going through and recognize the signs of aquaplaning. The clearest are the feeling that the front axle of the car is floating, as if it had no real grip on the road. A feeling very similar to the one you get when driving on ice and you don’t have chains on the wheels, that feeling that makes you feel like you can turn very easily and without difficulty. The next consequence is the loss of direction and the considerable increase in braking distance.
- It is vital that we pay attention to the amount of water on the road we are driving on. The greater the film of water, the more dangerous and deeper the aquaplaning will be. Even if visibility is reduced if it is raining or if you are on a road at night, pay as much attention as possible to the water and calculate how much there may be and how much the wheel can sink. Is it a simple puddle? Is the film of water generous? All these considerations will be very important when it comes to reacting correctly to this situation on the road.
- The most advisable thing is that you moderate your speed gradually. When the road is very wet it is not appropriate to drive at high speed as the grip of the tires gradually fails. Reduce your speed and avoid braking or changing direction as much as possible. In this way you will achieve safer driving and avoid the effects of aquaplaning.
- If you are on a road in a straight line, calm down, it is one of the most appropriate options to fight against aquaplaning safely. It is only necessary that you keep the direction of the steering wheel firm (do not move or turn it) and gradually reduce speed without using the brakes (otherwise you would end up slipping).
- If you are in a curve, stay calm and continue to follow the curve without making sharp turns at the wheel and gradually reducing speed. You just have to keep the steering wheel in the position necessary to make the turn (turned as little as possible) and not make sudden movements. Do not turn the steering wheel any further until you regain grip on the wheels.
- Never step on the brake or pull the parking brake. By the time the wheels regain grip, the trouble will be over. Think that if you brake you block all 4 wheels and, when you regain grip, what you will do is make the car slip away and not continue driving. The same happens if you use the brake in full aquaplaning: the wheel will not be able to continue following the path because it is paralyzed and you will end up slipping as if you were a skater on an ice rink.
Tips to avoid aquaplaning in a car
Latest tips to avoid aquaplaning in a car:
A good tire is the perfect salvation to avoid aquaplaning and many of the accidents that originate on the road. Never buy second hand tires and make sure yours are in proper condition. It is better that you opt for well-known brands and whose resistance and adherence to the ground is fully demonstrated with years of good results.
At the moment in which you have to change the tires it is advisable to do it either for a better model or for the same one that the vehicle had when it was delivered to you from the factory. It is normal to opt for this last option since manufacturers develop specific tires for each vehicle model with which to achieve greater safety and reliability on the road.
