With flood warnings being issued nationwide and the promise of further rainfall, the risk of aquaplaning has increased dramatically.
Aquaplaning is the term given to a loss of control of your vehicle when driving on very wet roads. A cushion of water develops between the tyre and the road, causing you to lose grip and steering control.
To minimise the risk of aquaplaning occurring, it is essential that you take good care of your tyres. You should ensure that you have adequate tread depth on all of your tyres, as the tread channels water away from the surface of the tyre. The law requires that you have at least 1.6mm of tread depth on your tyres but a tread depth of 3mm on summer tyres and 4mm on winter tyres is recommended.
You should also make sure that your tyres are correctly inflated as per the instructions in your car's handbook.
If you do find yourself aquaplaning, the best thing to do is to ease off the throttle and refrain from trying to brake or steer. As you lose speed, you should feel the tyres regain their grip and, at this point, you can regain control.
