Aquaplaning: Was man darunter versteht und was du tun solltest

Aquaplaning is one of the most frightening things that can happen to you as a driver – and one of the most dangerous. Even if you've never been in such a precarious situation before, you should know what to do if it does happen. By taking the right measures, you can prevent aquaplaning or quickly regain control of your car and avoid an accident.

We at CARIFY will tell you how to handle it properly.

What is Aquaplaning?

Even during my time in driving school, they always emphasized the importance of driving at an appropriate speed in rainy and wet conditions. Ignoring this advice could lead to aquaplaning, which, although it might sound like a thrilling sport, is a significant danger when you're behind the wheel. During aquaplaning, your ability to steer or brake effectively is compromised, causing your vehicle to skid uncontrollably. In the worst-case scenario, your Volkswagen, or any other vehicle for that matter, could collide with obstacles or oncoming cars, resulting in serious consequences.

So, it's crucial to understand how aquaplaning can happen and its underlying causes to stay safe on the road.

Causes of Aquaplaning

When driving on wet roads, your tires push a wedge of water in front of them. You can think of this as the bow wave of a ship, except that the tire has a wider surface area and isn't designed to interact with the physical properties of water.

Several factors increase the risk of skidding on this water wedge: excessive speed, wide tires, and worn-out tread. Under these conditions, the car slides on the water's surface similar to waterskiing. As a result, you lose traction and control over your vehicle.

Roadside signs warn about it: Many roads are slippery in wet conditions. This warning applies to road sections that become slippery under certain weather conditions, such as rain or snow. As a responsible driver, you should reduce your speed accordingly. However, aquaplaning can happen anywhere, even when ruts and other depressions increase the risk.

Besides speed, other factors contribute to losing control.

Heavy Rainfall

Most roads are designed to allow water to drain quickly to the sides. This way, you're driving on a very thin layer of water. However, due to factors like climate change, heavy rainfalls are becoming more common. When an excessive amount of rain falls in a short time, the non-sealed areas of the ground cannot absorb it all.

The water accumulates on the road. Puddles or even larger bodies of water can be much deeper than a film of moisture, posing a dangerous situation.

High Speed

The faster you drive, the greater the risk of your tires losing contact with the road. Moreover, high speed about aquaplaning also leads to accidents with more severe consequences.

Worn-out Tires

New tires can be expensive. However, this should never lead you to use your tires until they're just barely legal. An accident due to aquaplaning would cost you much more. In reality, the tread depth significantly affects how quickly your tires lose traction and start skidding. By the way, tire treads are designed to prevent hazards like aquaplaning. Worn-out tires are much less effective at protecting you for this reason alone.

Tip: Aquaplaning can be brought under control more quickly when it affects only the front tires. In this case, the car tends to continue in a straight line if the rear axle doesn't break out. However, if aquaplaning starts at the rear, the car will immediately spin in all directions.

Therefore, a good tread on the rear tires is especially important.

How to Avoid Aquaplaning and React Properly

Several factors contribute to aquaplaning.

The good news is that you can influence some of them. Ideally, you won't find yourself in such a situation in the first place. But even if aquaplaning takes control of your car, you can still take the right actions to minimize the impact. We've summarized the most important tips for you.

Reduce Speed

In any kind of wet conditions, it's wise to adjust your speed. When the road is very wet, you should drive even slower and more cautiously. It's best to stay well below 80 km/h (50 mph). This increases the chances of avoiding loss of control altogether.

If it does happen, you'll have more time to react. However, aquaplaning can occur even at speeds below 80 km/h. So, stay vigilant. If your vehicle has rear-wheel drive, this advice applies even more. As we mentioned earlier, you're at a significant disadvantage when aquaplaning only affects the rear tires.

Driving Behavior

When you're on a road with pronounced ruts, there's a greater risk of aquaplaning in rainy conditions. In such cases, try to drive slightly off-center from the ruts, if traffic allows it. Alternatively, use the lane with shallower ruts. Turn on your low-beam headlights and adjust the windshield wiper speed to the precipitation level.

This helps you see the dangers ahead more clearly and makes you more visible to others. Lower the radio volume so you can hear any changes in driving noise.

Tire Care

Proper and seasonally appropriate tire maintenance is crucial for defusing dangerous situations on the road, such as aquaplaning. This means not only using the right seasonal tires or all-year tires, but also regularly checking the tread depth. Also important: make sure to mount the tires in the correct rotational direction (indicated by an arrow on the tire's sidewall).

This is essential for the desired effect the tread offers. If two tires have less tread than the others, put them on the front. A good tread is more important on the rear. Proper tire pressure also reduces the risk of aquaplaning. You can find the recommended pressure on a label on the door edge. Sometimes, you can also find this information on the door frame, in the glove compartment, or on the fuel cap.

By the way, the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) doesn't prevent aquaplaning. Even the capabilities of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) are limited. It helps restore vehicle stability once aquaplaning subsides. If only one wheel is affected, it helps prevent the vehicle from spinning out.

Replace Shock Absorbers on Time

Good shock absorbers provide smoother driving. Your car won't bounce over bumps, and the wheels won't lose contact with the road as quickly. This also contributes to avoiding aquaplaning.

Recognize Warning Signs

Often, you can notice that something is wrong before you completely lose control. The most obvious sign is a flashing ESP control light. But even noise from under the car can be an indicator. The engine may rev up repeatedly, and the RPM increases when the tires temporarily lose contact with the road.

If the steering no longer responds correctly and the brakes have little effect, you should be aware of the danger.

Proper Reaction

If you lose traction due to aquaplaning despite your caution, stay calm.

These actions are most likely to regain control:

• Lift off the gas pedal and brake pedal.

• Activate the hazard lights to alert other drivers to your emergency situation, allowing them to steer clear.

• Depress the clutch to prevent further acceleration. Important: Do not shift gears in an automatic transmission!

• Keep your hands on the steering wheel.

• Do not steer against the skid; instead, steer straight.

By undergoing defensive driving training, you can prepare for dangerous situations like aquaplaning. This will give you the necessary confidence to react thoughtfully in emergencies.

Secure Tires Included in CARIFY's Car Subscription

If you've opted for a car subscription from CARIFY, you're well-prepared to avoid aquaplaning with properly fitted tires. At CARIFY, we want you to drive safely and reach your destination unharmed. That's why our subscription cars always come with well-maintained tires and good tread.

Additionally, tires as needed are included in the subscription price. With a car subscription from CARIFY, you're always well-equipped.

Conclusion

In conclusion, aquaplaning can occur on any road, especially if you're driving too fast in wet conditions. To avoid this potentially dangerous situation, it's crucial to adjust your speed and ensure your vehicle is equipped with well-maintained tires featuring good tread.

Fortunately, when you choose a car subscription from CARIFY, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your Volvo, Fiat, Opel, or any other model in our selection, will always be in excellent condition with top-quality tires as part of our comprehensive package of services.

FAQs:

When does aquaplaning occur?

During rain, moisture can accumulate, for example, in depressions or where water doesn't drain quickly enough. If drivers don't adjust their speed on such road sections, the tires can skid, losing their grip on the asphalt. The risk of aquaplaning increases with the water level and speed. Insufficient tread on tires further enhances skidding.

How dangerous is aquaplaning?

Aquaplaning is among the most dangerous things that can happen to you while driving. At high speeds, your vehicle continues skidding uncontrollably from side to side. Neither steering nor brakes provide sufficient grip to prevent an accident. Moreover, you can also face danger from other road users due to aquaplaning, even if you're driving cautiously. Therefore, pay attention to the vehicle in front of you and oncoming traffic to avoid potential skidding.