hydroplaned
Slid on water
Hydroplaned is the past tense of hydroplane—to skim across water or lose traction when a layer of water separates tires from the road surface.
The term comes from boats designed to skim at high speed, but now appears mostly in driving contexts: The car hydroplaned on the wet highway and spun out.
The experience is brief and terrifying—the steering goes slack as the vehicle glides uncontrolled.
Uncontrolled lateral slide
- spinoutUncontrolled vehicle rotation
- swerveAbrupt directional change
- fishtailRear-end lateral skid
- oversteerExcessive rear rotation
understeer · sliding · drifting · unresponsive · steering · braking · wheel lock · tailspin
Lacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- wetSaturated with liquid
- waterloggedSaturated with liquid
- floodedCovered with water
- puddleShallow collected rainwater
standing water · oily · greasy · glazed · slick · damp · saturated · drenched
Water dropping from clouds
- rainstormHeavy precipitation event
- downpourIntense precipitation event
- torrentialFlowing in violent streams
- monsoonSeasonal tropical wind pattern
cloudburst · deluge · storm · squall · precipitation · flooding · spray · wet conditions
Rubber wheel coverings
- treadsOuter tire surfaces
- speedRate of motion
- brakingReducing speed deliberately
- ABSAnti-lock braking system
antilock · cruise control · decelerate · highway · freeway · interstate · lane · vehicle
skid
Uncontrolled lateral slide
oversteer · understeer · sliding · drifting · unresponsive · steering · braking · wheel lock · tailspin · careening
slippery
Lacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- wetSaturated with liquid
- waterloggedSaturated with liquid
- floodedCovered with water
puddle · standing water · oily · greasy · glazed · slick · damp · saturated · drenched · soaked
rain
Water dropping from clouds
- rainstormHeavy precipitation event
- downpourIntense precipitation event
- torrentialFlowing in violent streams
monsoon · cloudburst · deluge · storm · squall · precipitation · flooding · spray · wet conditions · visibility
tires
Rubber wheel coverings
ABS · antilock · cruise control · decelerate · highway · freeway · interstate · lane · vehicle · automobile
accident
Unintended harmful event
risk · peril · warning · emergency · unsafe · fatal · injury · close call · near miss · guardrail