What is hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle's tires lose contact with the road surface and instead ride on a layer of water. This phenomenon typically happens when there is a significant amount of water on the road, and the tires cannot displace it quickly enough, leading to a loss of traction. As a result, the driver may find that steering and braking become ineffective, as the vehicle glides over the water instead of maintaining grip on the pavement.

Understanding hydroplaning is crucial for safe driving, especially in wet conditions. Drivers should be aware of how to prevent hydroplaning by reducing speed, ensuring tires are properly inflated, and maintaining adequate tread depth. The other options describe different driving hazards but do not specifically capture the mechanics of hydroplaning as accurately as riding on a thin film of water.