Core: Aquaplaning: what to do — and not do — when the tyres start to 'float'

Rain makes the road surface more slippery — a longer braking distance — and increases the risk of aquaplaning: with a lot of water on the road, the tyres cannot (fully) clear the water and 'float' on the water surface instead of making contact with the asphalt (Book p.188). Three factors increase the risk: insufficient tyre tread or high speed (the tyre does not clear the water fast enough), wide tyres fitted (less weight per cm² of road), and driving in the right-hand lane of the motorway (more rutting, so more pooled water) (Book p.189). You prevent aquaplaning with three things at once: adjusted speed, tyres with good tread, and correct tyre pressure (Book p.189). On the same pages the book also names crosswind: heavy crosswind and especially sudden gusts are most dangerous on bridges and viaducts, where a noise barrier ends, and when overtaking a lorry (Book p.190) — three spots where you should expect extra steering correction in wind.