Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumSkidding Causes and Prevention

While driving on a dual carriageway in heavy rain, your tyres begin to aquaplane across standing water and the steering suddenly feels very light. In which order should you carry out the following actions to safely regain control of your vehicle?

  1. 1Ease your foot gently off the accelerator to let the vehicle slow down naturally.
  2. 2Keep the steering wheel straight and steady without applying harsh braking.
  3. 3Wait for the tyres to cut through the surface water and regain physical contact with the road.
  4. 4Apply gentle steering and braking inputs once normal steering resistance is felt.

Answer

1. Ease your foot gently off the accelerator to let the vehicle slow down naturally. 2. Keep the steering wheel straight and steady without applying harsh braking. 3. Wait for the tyres to cut through the surface water and regain physical contact with the road. 4. Apply gentle steering and braking inputs once normal steering resistance is felt.
When aquaplaning occurs, the tyres ride up on a cushion of water, causing steering to feel light and unresponsive. The correct recovery sequence begins with easing off the accelerator smoothly to allow engine drag and air resistance to reduce speed. Next, keeping the wheels straight without harsh braking prevents a sudden spin. As speed decreases, the tyre treads can disperse the standing water and regain grip. Finally, once normal steering resistance is restored, gentle directional control can be safely resumed.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Ease off the accelerator pedal immediately and smoothly.
Vehicle begins deceleration gradually without locking wheels or causing sudden chassis balance disruption.
Sudden braking or aggressive throttle inputs on a surface water film will induce an immediate severe skid.
2
Maintain a steady, straight steering angle and avoid applying the footbrake.
The vehicle continues travelling in a stable straight line while floating over the water film.
Turned front wheels will violently snap the vehicle sideways the moment tyre tread bites into the tarmac.
3
Allow road resistance and engine drag to drop the speed until the tread displaces water.
The water cushion dissipates and tyre contact patches reconnect with the road surface.
Tyre tread grooves require a reduction in road speed to evacuate standing water effectively.
4
Resume gentle steering and normal driving controls once steering weight returns.
Full directional control is safely restored.
Steering inputs become effective and predictable only after physical grip between rubber and tarmac is restored.

Key Concept

Aquaplaning Recovery and Skid Prevention Sequence
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Skidding Causes and Prevention

More questions from this topic