What should a driver do if their vehicle starts to hydroplane?

When a vehicle begins to hydroplane, it means that the tires have lost contact with the road surface due to a layer of water between the tires and the pavement. In this situation, the best action for the driver is to steer gently and avoid braking. This is because hard steering or sudden braking can further destabilize the vehicle, making it more difficult to regain control.

By steering gently in the direction of the skid, the driver helps the tires to reconnect with the road surface gradually. This method allows for a better chance of regaining traction without inducing an additional loss of control. The focus should be on maintaining a steady hand on the wheel and allowing the vehicle to decelerate naturally rather than making abrupt movements that could worsen the hydroplaning condition.

In contrast, accelerating quickly would likely make the situation worse by increasing speed while traction is already compromised. Applying the brakes firmly could cause the vehicle to spin out or skid, and shifting to a lower gear suddenly could also destabilize the vehicle while reducing control. Therefore, steering gently while avoiding braking is the safest approach during hydroplaning.