Nova Scotia Driving Test Practice: Ace your driving test

How can you reduce the risk of hydroplaning?

1. By increasing your speed

2. By switching to cruise control

3. By slowing down when driving on wet roads

4. By using winter tires

The correct answer is: By slowing down when driving on wet roads

To effectively reduce the risk of hydroplaning, slowing down when driving on wet roads is essential. Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle's tires lose contact with the road surface due to water accumulation, causing the tires to ride on top of the water layer rather than the pavement. This often happens at higher speeds when the vehicle's momentum can overwhelm the tire's ability to channel water away from the contact patch. By slowing down, you give your tires a better chance to maintain contact with the road, allowing the tread to effectively disperse water. Reduced speed also enables better control and reaction time, which is crucial in adverse weather conditions. Slower speeds improve the ability to navigate through slick surfaces, minimizing the likelihood of losing traction altogether. The other approaches, such as increasing speed or using cruise control, would exacerbate the risk of hydroplaning, as these actions can prevent tires from adequately handling water. While winter tires can improve grip on icy surfaces, their effectiveness in heavy rain does not directly address the hydroplaning issue as well as reducing speed does.