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Difficulty: MediumWet Weather and Aquaplaning

When a vehicle begins to aquaplane on pooled surface water, applying firm pressure to the footbrake is the safest immediate action to restore tyre grip.

Answer: Answer

Answer

False. When a vehicle begins to aquaplane, the driver should smoothly ease off the accelerator and maintain a steady steering direction rather than applying the brakes.
The statement is false because applying the footbrake while aquaplaning causes the wheels to lock up immediately. Without road friction, braking cannot slow the vehicle down and will induce a severe skid the moment the tyres touch the road surface again. According to official DVSA standards, the driver must ease off the accelerator smoothly and keep the steering wheel steady until normal grip returns.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the physical state of the vehicle during aquaplaning.
Tyres have lost physical contact with the tarmac and are riding on top of a water wedge.
Understanding that there is zero tyre-to-road friction explains why conventional braking mechanisms are ineffective.
2
Evaluate the mechanical consequence of applying the footbrake.
The wheels lock up because there is no road friction to keep them turning against brake pad pressure.
Locked wheels remove all directional steering capability and cause an unpredictable skid when any tyre suddenly regains grip.
3
Identify the standard DVSA recovery procedure.
Conclude that the statement is false because the correct action is to gently release the accelerator pedal and avoid abrupt steering or braking.
Allowing the vehicle to decelerate naturally allows tyre tread grooves to disperse the water and re-establish traction.

Key Concept

Physical response to aquaplaning and avoidance of wet-weather skids
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Wet Weather and Aquaplaning

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