North Carolina (NC) Permit Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

When a car begins to hydroplane, it means that the tires have lost contact with the road due to a layer of water between the tires and the pavement. In this situation, taking your foot off the gas pedal gradually is the safest response. This action helps to reduce the speed of the vehicle, allowing the tires to regain traction on the road surface. As the speed decreases, the likelihood of regaining control improves, facilitating a smoother transition back to normal driving conditions.

The other actions are less effective in managing a hydroplaning situation. Pressing the gas pedal would only worsen the hydroplane condition by increasing speed, while braking hard can cause the tires to lose even more traction. Turning the steering wheel can be necessary once control is regained, but doing so suddenly or without having managed the car's speed first could lead to further skidding or loss of control. Therefore, gradually easing off the gas is the recommended approach when faced with hydroplaning.