(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Aaron Schulze

Hydroplaning Season

Hydroplaning risks return with rain

Jul 5, 2019 | 12:38 PM

When it rains, it can pour for Northeast Saskatchewan drivers.

The risks of hydroplaning have returned along with the rainy weather and drivers are encouraged to mindful of the conditions and maintenance of their vehicle to avoid losing control on the road.

Melfort Fire Chief Jason Everitt isn’t aware of any instances of hydroplaning in his fire department’s service area since the snow melted, but the potential is there with heavy rain.

“If you have water that is standing on a hard surface… it’s not able to be absorbed into the ground and you’re travelling over that, there is that potential, especially with speed,” Everitt told northeastNOW. “Reducing your speed is one way to try and reduce that risk, but you need to be cognisant about the speed of other vehicles travelling on the highway and not being an obstacle for them. Just because the posted speed limit is there, doesn’t mean you have to travel at that speed.”

Northeast residents are recommends to avoid driving in puddles on the highway caused by worn down asphalt and making sure their tires are inflated and treaded.

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“If you allow those tires to get worn down, you lose the ability to displace that water out from underneath the tire,” Everitt said. “The tire can result in floating on that liquid, therefore you lose either steering or control of the vehicle, especially in a curve situation where you may be required to steer the vehicle suddenly. Any time you lose control of a vehicle at speed, it’s definitely dangerous not only for the occupants of that vehicle, but anybody else that may be travelling in close proximity.”

Everitt encourages drivers to get their vehicles inspected to ensure they’re safe to drive on the highways.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow