Missouri driving lesson · Special Driving Conditions
Hydroplaning, ABS, skids and fog
A 3-minute lesson from the Missouri course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
When your tires lose grip, whether on water, in a skid or under hard braking, smooth and correct inputs save you. Know in advance what to do with the gas, the brake and the wheel.
Hydroplaning
Loss of traction and control that happens when your tires ride on water instead of the pavement.
Four-wheel ABS keeps wheels from locking in emergency braking. Keep firm, continuous pressure on the brake while you steer. Pulsing in the pedal is normal.
Skids are handled the same in front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles: take your foot off the accelerator, don't hit the brakes, and gently turn the wheel in the direction the rear wheels are sliding. Braking or jerking the wheel makes the skid worse.
On a wet curve, your car's rear end slides to the right. Ease off the gas, stay off the brake, and gently turn the wheel to the right, the way the rear is sliding, until you regain control.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
At what speed can hydroplaning begin to occur, according to the handbook?
