Standing water and speed are a bad combination for drivers on Central Florida's water logged roads right now. It only takes a few seconds to hydroplane and lose control of your car. Safety experts are offering life saving information on what to do when you car starts slip sliding away.
Noel Warner owns the B and W Driving School in Orlando. He says your car hydroplanes when a wedge of water forms in front of your tires. Your car actually rides on that water, losing contact with the road and losing traction.
Warner says, "When you hydroplane, you lose complete control of the vehicle- the steering and the brakes."
Here's what to do in that critical moment when you lose traction. "Ease off the gas, grip the steering wheel firmly and don't slam on the brake."
Don't make any sudden turns with the steering wheel. He says, "You definitely want to steer the car in the direction you want it to go."
Your best bet is to try to prevent your car from hydroplaning in the first place. Keep your speed under forty miles per hour in heavy rain. Safety experts say if you're in a situation where you could hydroplane, turn off your cruise control, because it will call for more fuel to your engine and it can actually make the skid worse.
Make sure you maintain your tires. Under inflated or badly over inflated tires can cause you to hydroplane. So can bald tires. Safety experts say it only costs you one penny to check the tread on your tires.
Warner explains, "So take the penny and put it in the two main channels of the tire treads. If you cannot see Abe Lincoln's head then the tire is ok."
If you put the penny into the tread upside down and you can see honest Abe's head, you honestly need to replace that tire.
One last reminder- if you see deep water ahead, you need to slow it down to avoid spinning out of control.
