Practice question

To avoid hydroplaning, what should you do?

  1. Accelerate
  2. Pump your brakes
  3. Reduce your speed
  4. Hit the brakes hard

Answer: C — Reduce your speed

Reducing your speed is essential to avoid hydroplaning because hydroplaning occurs when your vehicle's tires lose contact with the road due to a layer of water between them. This can happen when driving too fast in wet conditions. By slowing down, you allow the tires to maintain traction on the wet surface, which decreases the risk of skidding and losing control of the vehicle. In contrast, accelerating would increase the likelihood of hydroplaning, as it raises the chance of your tires losing contact with the road surface. Pumping your brakes might not be effective in preventing hydroplaning and could lead to skidding. Hitting the brakes hard can cause your vehicle to lose control and worsen the situation. Therefore, maintaining a moderate speed is the best way to ensure safety while driving on wet roads.

Practice more: Nova Scotia Driving Learner's License Practice Exam →