How can you avoid hydroplaning during rainy conditions?

To avoid hydroplaning during rainy conditions, slowing down and avoiding sudden maneuvers is crucial. Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle's tires lose contact with the road surface due to water buildup, resulting in a loss of traction and control. By reducing speed, you can decrease the likelihood of reaching a point where the water on the pavement overwhelms the tire’s ability to displace it, thus allowing the tires to maintain better contact with the road.

Additionally, avoiding sudden maneuvers—such as abrupt steering or hard braking—helps maintain vehicle stability. These actions can destabilize the vehicle, making it more prone to hydroplaning. Maintaining a steady, controlled drive at lower speeds allows the tires to channel water away more effectively and provides the driver with more time to react to any emergencies that may arise.

Faster speeds, as suggested in one of the options, would actually increase the likelihood of hydroplaning as the tires may not be able to push the water out from under them quickly enough. Similarly, turning on cruise control could lead to an inability to promptly adjust speed or react to road conditions. Driving with windows open has no effect on hydroplaning and could potentially create distractions.