What to do if your car got into the “water sheet”?

Portugal is under water. News coming to us from different parts of the country reveals critical situations, especially in Lisbon. People are advised not to leave their homes and not go to the capital.

On the road, you also need to be very careful, especially with aquaplaning (groundwater level). Find out what it is and what to do.

What is hydroplaning? How to react in such a scenario?

In bad weather, claims tend to increase. In some lanes, waste is starting to accumulate, visibility is poor, cars are aquaplaning, and in this sense it is necessary to drive at a speed that guarantees the best safety.

Hydroplaning or aquaplaning, also known as surface water or aquaplaning, occurs when water accumulates in front of the tires faster than the weight of your vehicle can displace it.

As a result, the water creates a certain amount of pressure under the tire, creating a thin layer of water between the rubber and the road surface, causing the tires to lose traction.

If your vehicle enters a layer of water, you must keep a firm grip on the steering wheel to prevent the car from going the other way. You should avoid speeding up or crashing in this type of scenario.

The GNR advises:

• Check tires and tire pressure regularly. If the tire pressure is different from the recommended one, there is an increased risk of hydroplaning.
  
• Check tread depth and tire wear. The deeper the grooves of the tire, the better the grip and the lower the risk of hydroplaning.
• Reduce your speed.