If your vehicle begins to hydroplane, what should you do?

• A. Brake gently
• B. Pull over to the shoulder
• C. Ease off the gas
• D. Steer quickly in the opposite direction

Answer: (C)

Hydroplaning happens when water builds between the tires and the road, so you’ve temporarily lost traction. The safest first move is to ease off the gas to slow the tires and let them recontact the road. This smooth reduction in speed helps regain control without the sudden forces that can cause a skid. Braking hard or making rapid steering corrections can worsen the loss of grip, and pulling over abruptly isn’t reliable until you’ve regained traction. Once you feel the tires grip again, you can brake gently and steer normally. So the best action is to ease off the gas.