California · Emergency Situations
You hit a puddle on a California freeway and begin hydroplaning. What do you do?
- Brake hard to slow
- Steer toward the shoulder quickly
- Accelerate through the puddle
- Ease off the gas, keep the wheel straight, and do not brake hard
Correct answer
Ease off the gas, keep the wheel straight, and do not brake hard
Why this is correct
Hydroplaning means tires have lost road contact. California drivers should let off the gas and hold the wheel steady; tires will regain grip as the vehicle slows. Hard braking or sudden steering almost always triggers a spin.
California Driver Handbook, p. 85