What should you do if your vehicle starts to hydroplane?

When a vehicle begins to hydroplane, it loses contact with the road surface due to water buildup between the tires and the road. This can lead to a significant loss of control. Holding the steering wheel steady and avoiding hard braking is the correct response because it helps maintain control of the vehicle.

By keeping the steering wheel steady, you give yourself the best chance to recover when the tires regain contact with the road surface after leaving the hydroplaning situation. Hard braking, on the other hand, can further destabilize the vehicle and increase the risk of skidding. Additionally, rapid steering movements can also result in a loss of control. Therefore, the safest option is to remain calm, hold the wheel steady, and gently ease off the accelerator until the vehicle slows down and regains its grip on the road.

The other options, such as accelerating or shifting into a lower gear, could lead to a more serious loss of control, while turning off the engine would not help in regaining traction and could create additional hazards on the road.