THE CAUSES OF SEMI-TRUCK HYDROPLANING

If you have ever watched a driver in front of your slip and slide while trying to operate the vehicle in heavy rainfall, you have probably done all you could to prevent hydroplaning yourself. Hydroplaning happens when too much water accumulates in front of your vehicle’s tires quicker than your car can push the water away.

The pressure from the extra water can lift your vehicle off the road and cause it to slide along the water. When this happens, you’re essentially water skiing while driving, which could be VERY DANGEROUS!

More About Hydroplaning

If you are driving on a slippery road, you should drive slower, especially if you are in a large vehicle or semi-truck. It will take longer for you to slow down if the road is wet, and if you’re driving too fast, you could hydroplane, which makes the road more dangerous for you and all surrounding drivers.

If you cannot avoid hydroplaning, you can regain control of your vehicle if you are paying attention. You can get your vehicle back on track by taking your foot off the gas and pushing the clutch pedal. This will slow the vehicle down and allow you to turn the wheels without resistance.

Make sure that the tires are in great condition to avoid hydroplaning. If the tire pressure is low or the treads of the tires are worn, you are more likely to hydroplane. The composition of the water can also change the way it reacts with your tires. If there is oil, salts, or dirt in the water, you may be more likely to hydroplane. Remember that while hydroplaning can occur no matter how fast you are going, it is important to drive slower than 40 mph when the roads are wet.

If you are a professional truck driver and you don’t keep the tires of the truck in good condition, you could be responsible for injuries if your vehicle hydroplanes and hits another automobile or a pedestrian.

How To Stop Safely

To avoid hydroplaning, you should maintain a reasonable distance from the vehicles in front of you. This is especially important if you drive a truck that hauls heavy loads. Remember that the faster you are driving, the less time you’ll have to slow down and prevent an accident.

Speeding also slows your reaction time. This means that even if you notice that you are about to get into an accident, you may not be able to brake in time to prevent it from happening.

The weight of a truck can also affect the time it takes for the vehicle to come to a complete halt. Since a semi-truck is a heavier vehicle, the brakes have to work hard to stop it. This is why there are government regulations on truckload, since additional weight can determine how safe a truck is when it’s on the road in bad weather. That is why truck drivers must visit weigh stations on their assigned routes to make sure the load they are carrying is within government-mandated limits.

An empty truck can also be a safety hazard. The braking system on semi-trucks is designed to operate when the truck has a full load. When the truck doesn’t have any cargo, it doesn’t have as much traction, which means the truck needs more stopping distance. When the road is wet, the traction of the truck is significantly reduced, and you will have to travel at lower speeds to safely stop.

Final Thoughts

THE THREE MAIN FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HYDROPLANING ARE:

• VEHICLE SPEED - as speed increases, wet traction is reduced

• TIRE TREAD DEPTH - worn tires have less ability to resist hydroplaning

• WATER DEPTH - The deeper the water, the quicker you lose traction, but thin layers of water cause hydroplaning, too

WHAT CAUSES HYDROPLANING?

What it boils down to is that when your tires are moving over a wet surface too quickly there is insufficient time to channel the moisture away from the center of the tire. As mentioned, the water lifts the tire and you lose traction. The point at which your vehicle becomes waterborne is called the transition point. The transition point is determined by the following variables:

• Tire size - the wider the contact area relative to length, the higher the speed needed for hydroplaning.

• Tread pattern

• Tire pressure

• Water depth

• Water composition - oil, temperature, dirt, and salts change the water

• Vehicle drive-train - all wheel drive vehicles may be more likely to hydro plane in some circumstances.

• Vehicle speed - always slow down when it’s wet. Hydroplaning can occur at any speed under the right combination of conditions, but some sources define higher speeds as over 40 mph.

• Vehicle weight - the lighter the vehicle the greater the tendency to hydro plane.

• Road surface type - non-grooved asphalt is more hydroplane prone than ribbed or grooved concrete

It’s sometimes hard to tell when you’re hydroplaning. The vehicle’s rear end may be a little squirrelly. Steering may feel loose or too easy. Watch for standing water or spray from vehicles in front of you. Slow down. If you start to hydroplane, don’t apply your brakes or turn your steering wheel. Hold the wheel firmly, go straight, ease your foot off the gas until the car slows and your steering normalizes. If required to brake, do so gently with light pumping actions. For cars with anti-lock brakes, brake normally.

Are your tires checked daily for wear, tread depth, and pressure? Do the people checking them know what they’re doing? Have they been trained the same way? Do they use the same equipment? Does anybody monitor the quality of their checks? Are appropriate records maintained? These things might sound basic, but they are important because you might be betting your life on them.