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Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build
up under the vehicle's tires so they actually
ride on the water. This can happen if the
road is wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is hydroplaning, it
has little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow
down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather
driving tips include:
Allow extra following distance.
Pass with caution.
Keep windshield wiping equipment in
good shape.
Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir
filled.
Have good tires with proper tread depth.
See Tires 0 317.
Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Warning
Do not charge your vehicle s battery
above an 80% charge if you are going to
drive down long, steep grades such as
mountain passes. This provides room in
the battery for regenerative braking to
supplement your conventional brakes
during the descent. This is especially
important when towing a trailer, which
puts additional stress on your vehicle s
braking system.
If the battery becomes full, regenerative
braking will be limited or unavailable. The
brakes will have to do all the work of
slowing down the vehicle and could
become too hot. Hot brakes may not be
able to slow the vehicle enough to
maintain speed and control. To help avoid
the risk of a crash, limit the battery s
charge and, if you experience brake fade
or receive a brake warning, stop the
vehicle and allow the brakes to cool.
See Charge Now under Charging 0 108
for information on setting charge limits.
Driving and Operating
Driving on steep hills or through mountains
is different than driving on flat or rolling
terrain. Be sure to:
Use regenerative braking to help slow the
vehicle or maintain speed by keeping the
vehicle in gear and limiting the initial
battery charge to 80% or less.
When braking is necessary, use frequent,
light taps of the brake pedal. This
maximizes regenerative braking and
minimizes the load on the vehicle brake
system.
Keep the vehicle serviced and in good
shape.
Check all fluid levels, brakes, tires and
cooling system.
Drive at speeds that keep the vehicle in
its own lane. Do not swing wide or cross
the center line.
Be alert on top of hills; something could
be in your lane (e.g., stalled car, crash).
Pay attention to special road signs (e.g.,
falling rocks area, winding roads, long
grades, passing or no-passing zones) and
take appropriate action.
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