Hydroplaning: What It Is, What to Do, and How Ohio Tests It

Hydroplaning happens when your tires ride up on a thin film of water and lose contact with the road — steering and braking suddenly do almost nothing. If it happens: ease your foot off the gas, keep the wheel steady and pointed where you want to go, and do not slam the brakes. As the car slows, the tires settle back onto the pavement and grip returns.

When hydroplaning happens

• Speeds above roughly 35 mph on wet roads — the faster you go, the less water it takes.
• The first minutes of rain, when water lifts oil and grease off the pavement (the road is slickest right when rain starts).
• Standing water, puddles, and worn tires with low tread depth.

If you start to hydroplane

1. Ease off the accelerator — don't stomp the brake.
2. Hold the steering wheel firmly and keep it straight; steer gently in the direction you want to travel.
3. If you must brake and you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), apply steady pressure — never pump ABS brakes.
4. Wait for the tires to regain grip, then adjust speed for conditions.

How to prevent it

• Slow down in rain — driving through water at lower speed keeps tires in contact with the road.
• Avoid standing water and the outer edges of lanes where water pools.
• Keep tires properly inflated and replace them before the tread wears out.
• Drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead, where tires have already pushed water aside.