Ever experienced losing control, even if it was momentarily, under wet conditions? The answer may be, in all certainties, a yes for most of us.
Losing control of your car in wet is a frightening situation that may have you land up in a soup. Drive slowly and carefully to prevent skids. On the curves, steer and brake with a light touch. If you want to stop, make sure that you do not brake hard or lock up the wheels, lest you end up skidding.
Even if you do lose control and end up skidding, do not panic as it will only add to the trouble. Stay calm, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and steer the car carefully in the direction you want the front of the car to go. If your car comes equipped with ABS then modulate the use of brakes as you steer the car.
Aquaplaning is another severe predicament that happens when the water in front of your tires builds up faster than your car's weight can push it out of the way. The water pressure causes the car to slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road surface. At this point, your car can be completely out of contact with the road, and you are in danger of skidding or drifting out of your lane, or even off the road. To avoid getting yourself in such a situation, keep your tires properly inflated, maintain good tread on your tires and replace them when necessary.
Slow down when you experience wet roads, and stay away from puddles. Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you. Avoid using brakes or turning suddenly. This could throw your car into a slide. Ease off the gas pedal until the car slows down to the extent that you can feel the roadagain. If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping actions. If your car employs ABS, use the brakes normally. This will see the ABS actuating the brake force as is required to prevent any loss of grip.
