How to Safely Get Out of a Hydroplane While Driving

Ease off the accelerator, keep the steering wheel straight, and avoid sudden braking or steering; once the tires regain grip, make gentle corrections. If you must brake and you have ABS, use steady, firm pressure; without ABS, brake very lightly in pulses. This approach minimizes loss of control and helps your tires reconnect with the road.

What Hydroplaning Is—and Why It Happens

Hydroplaning (also called aquaplaning) occurs when a thin layer of water builds under your tires faster than it can be dispersed, lifting them off the road surface. With little to no tire-road contact, steering, braking, and acceleration inputs become far less effective. The risk rises with speed (often above about 45–55 mph or 72–88 km/h, but it can happen lower), worn or underinflated tires, standing water, and oil-slick or polished surfaces such as painted lane markings or metal plates. Electronic stability control and ABS can help you recover once traction returns, but they cannot prevent hydroplaning itself.

Step-by-Step: Recovering While It’s Happening

The following steps outline how to regain control as quickly and safely as possible when your vehicle starts to hydroplane.

1. Stay calm and smoothly ease off the accelerator to reduce speed without shifting the vehicle’s weight abruptly.
2. Keep the steering wheel straight and your eyes looking where you want to go; apply only small, smooth corrections if the car begins to drift.
3. Avoid braking unless you must to avoid a collision. If braking is necessary and your vehicle has ABS, apply firm, steady pressure and let the system work. Without ABS, use very light, gentle pumping—do not lock the wheels.
4. If you drive a manual, depress the clutch; if you’re comfortable doing so in an automatic, you can shift to neutral smoothly. Decoupling the engine prevents unintended wheel spin or engine braking from upsetting balance.
5. Wait for the tires to reconnect with the road; you’ll feel steering response return. Then steer gently to maintain your lane or return to it.
6. If the rear of the car fishtails, steer gently in the direction the rear is sliding (into the skid) to realign the vehicle—then straighten as grip returns.
7. If you drift toward the shoulder, keep the wheels mostly straight, slow down under control, and re-enter the pavement only after stabilizing, at a shallow angle.

These actions reduce sudden weight shifts and wheel lock or spin—common triggers for a full skid—so traction can come back sooner and under your control.

What Not to Do

These common mistakes make hydroplaning worse by further reducing tire contact or upsetting the vehicle’s balance.

• Do not jerk the wheel or make rapid steering inputs.
• Do not slam on the brakes—especially if your vehicle lacks ABS—as this can lock wheels and eliminate remaining grip.
• Do not accelerate to “power through” the water; added speed increases hydroplaning forces.
• Do not use cruise control in heavy rain or on standing water; it can keep throttle applied when you need to reduce speed.
• Do not assume AWD/4WD will prevent hydroplaning; all drivetrains can hydroplane when tires lose contact.

Avoiding these pitfalls helps keep the tire footprint stable and maximizes your chances of a smooth, quick recovery.

Prevention: Reduce Your Risk Before It Happens

Good preparation and technique dramatically lower your odds of hydroplaning in the first place.

• Slow down in rain, especially where water pools; drop at least 5–10 mph (8–16 km/h) and more in heavy standing water.
• Maintain proper tire pressure per the door-jamb placard; underinflation increases hydroplaning risk.
• Replace tires before they’re worn out for wet weather: 4/32 in (about 3.2 mm) tread depth is a widely recommended minimum for rain, even though legal limits may be 2/32 in.
• Choose tires with strong wet traction ratings and maintain rotations, alignment, and balance.
• Avoid visible puddles and rutted outside lanes where water collects; follow the tracks of vehicles ahead but leave extra distance.
• Disable cruise control in wet conditions; consider drive modes that soften throttle response.
• Keep wipers, washer fluid, and defogger in top condition; visibility supports better hazard anticipation.

These habits improve water evacuation under your tires and increase your reaction time, cutting the risk of losing contact with the road.

If You’re on a Motorcycle

Hydroplaning on two wheels demands extra care because stability margins are tighter and lean angles matter more.

• Keep the bike upright with minimal lean; reduce speed smoothly by rolling off the throttle.
• Avoid abrupt inputs; use very light, progressive braking—front and rear—only if necessary and upright.
• Look ahead and allow the bike to track straight; maintain a relaxed grip to prevent bar wobbles.
• Steer clear of painted lines, metal plates, and lane dots; they’re slick when wet.
• Ensure proper tire pressure and adequate tread depth; rain-specific tires improve water evacuation.

Prioritizing smoothness, upright posture, and good tire condition helps you regain grip without triggering a slide.

After the Incident: Reset and Check Your Vehicle

Once conditions allow, pull over safely to regroup. Check tire pressures and tread, and look for damage to wheels or underbody if you struck debris or a pothole. If warning lights briefly flashed (traction control, ABS), that’s common during loss and return of grip; persistent lights or new vibrations merit a professional inspection. Resume driving at a reduced speed and increase following distance in continued rain.

Quick FAQs

The answers below address common uncertainties drivers have about hydroplaning.

• At what speed can hydroplaning start? It depends on water depth, tire tread, and pressure; it can begin as low as 35 mph (56 km/h) in standing water, lower with worn or underinflated tires.
• Does ABS prevent hydroplaning? No. ABS helps you steer while braking and prevents wheel lock, but it doesn’t stop the tires from riding up on water.
• How much water is enough to hydroplane? Even shallow water—just a few millimeters—can cause hydroplaning at higher speeds, especially with worn tires.
• Do AWD/4WD vehicles hydroplane less? They can still hydroplane; drivetrain type doesn’t replace tire grip. Good tires and lower speeds matter most.

Understanding these fundamentals helps you choose the safest response in real time and prioritize the preventive steps that matter.

Summary

To get out of a hydroplane: ease off the throttle, keep the wheel straight, avoid sudden braking, and let the tires reconnect before making gentle corrections. Use ABS properly if you must brake, and avoid abrupt inputs that can induce a skid. Lower speeds, healthy tires with adequate tread and pressure, and smart wet-weather habits are your best defenses against hydroplaning in the first place.