Hydroplane Plan

Tue., Sept. 30, 2014

Sharon L. Peters CTW Features

Q: You¡¯ve offered advice in the past about things to do in various unexpected crises on the road. Here¡¯s a new one: What do you do when the car hydroplanes? A: Don¡¯t brake! Hydroplaning occurs when you¡¯re driving on a wet road, usually faster than the conditions demand, and a thin sheet of water is suddenly separating your car¡¯s tires from the pavement. Because of this lack of wheel-to-road contact, steering doesn¡¯t really accomplish much (the steering wheel feels oddly light), and braking can make things worse. Ease off the gas. As the car slows, some of its weight will shift to the front and pretty quickly you will have pressed through the water and will be making contact again with the pavement. You¡¯ll know when that¡¯s happened because the steering wheel will feel tight again, not loose and weird. When you¡¯ve reached this stage, you can use the brakes (but don¡¯t jump on them) if you feel the need to pull over and compose yourself. Or you can just keep going at this slower, safer rate. You can reduce your risk of hydroplaning by making sure the treads on your tires are adequate and that your tires are properly inflated. You should also train yourself to slow down when rain is heavy, and avoid, when possible, traveling in lanes where water has built up or pooled even slightly. Q: We¡¯re looking at a Lexus ES 300 hybrid. We like it very much, but would like to drive some comps – pricewise and features-wise – for comparison before we decide. What do you suggest? A: I¡¯d try the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, which, with its approximately $35,000-plus starting price, is about $5,000 less than the base price of the Lexus. You should also check out the Infiniti Q50 Hybrid, which has a starting price of about $45,300. Remember: the standard features on each of them are very different, so make sure to factor in all the various personal must-haves which may cost extra on some (like review backup camera) when you¡¯re making your price comparisons. Also, the mpg for these three can differ by more than 10 mpg, so that¡¯s something to factor in as well. What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, driving and repairing your vehicle. Email Sharon@ctwfeatures.com.

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