1993 Oldsmobile Bravada Owner's Manual - Page 155

Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happenif the road is wet enough and you're going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. You might notbe aware of hydroplaning. You could drive along forsome time without realizing your tires aren't in constant contact with the road. You could find outthe hard way: when you have to slow, turn, move out to pass-or if you get by a gustof wind. You could hit suddenly find yourself out of control. Hydroplaning doesn't happen often. But it can if yourtires haven'tmuch treador if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happenif a lotof water is standing on the road.If you can see reflections from trees, telephone poles,or other vehicles, and raindrops "dimple" the water's surface, there could be hydroplaning. Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn't a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when itis raining, and be careful. Some Other Rainy Weather Tips Turn on your headlights-not just your parking lights-to help make you more visible to others. Look for hard-to-see vehicles coming from behind. You may want to use your headlights evenin daytime if it's raining hard. Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. Andbe especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted road by spray. If the road spray is so heavy you are actually blinded, drop back. Don't pass until conditions improve. Going more slowly is better than having an accident. Use your defogger ifit helps. Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See the Index under Eres.) r r - 1 153