Toyota Innova Aquaplanes Due To High Speed On Highway: Hits Barrier But Parents And Child Remain Safe
Driving a vehicle at high speeds is already very dangerous, but when the same is done during a rainy day, it makes things even more extreme. Recently, showing why any vehicle should not be driven at high speeds during rain, a video has been shared online. In this particular video, a Toyota Innova was aquaplaning on a highway. The vehicle then hit the road barriers, but thankfully, it managed to save the family members sitting inside the vehicle, including a child.
Aquaplaning Toyota Innova crashes into barrier
The video showing this Toyota Innova shunt during a rainy day has been shared on X by Dave on their page. As per the post, this particular incident took place in Malappuram, Kerala. We can note that a white-colored Toyota Innova was initially drifting on the extremely wet national highway. Soon after this, what happens is that the vehicle turns 180 degrees.
It then first hits the left side barrier of the road with its front right portion, after which it did not turn again. However, its rear right side kept dragging along the length of the barrier for a considerable amount of distance. Following this, we can note that the vehicle finally stops while facing the wrong side.
Parents and child were safe
The video shows that the occupants inside this particular Toyota Innova were safe and had suffered no injuries. Occupants of this vehicle included a man and his wife, along with a very young child. We can note that a few people stopped on the road to check on the people and were helping them after the incident.
Why did this incident take place?
As mentioned earlier, this particular incident is the classic example of a vehicle aquaplaning. For those who may not be aware, aquaplaning is that phenomenon which takes place when a speeding vehicle on a road loses its grip and starts sliding off. What happens is that a layer of water builds between the tyres of a vehicle and the road surface during rainy days.
Generally, the chances of a vehicle aquaplaning increase significantly when the speed of the vehicle is very high on a wet road surface. Additionally, worn-out or bald tyres, which are unable to disperse water quickly, cause the vehicle to lose grip on the road.
Other reasons why aquaplaning takes place include the accumulation of standing water on the road, under-inflated tyres, and lastly, sudden and sharp turning of the steering wheel on wet roads. Sometimes, this problem occurs because of the undulations on the road as well, which was one of the contributing factors in the above incident, as the Malappuram highway was recently built.
How to avoid and drive while aquaplaning?
To avoid aquaplaning and crashing on the road like the above Toyota Innova, you have to make sure that you do not drive at a very high speed during wet conditions. Also, make sure that your tyres have enough tread depth so that they do not skid easily. Additionally, one important thing you can do is drive on the tracks of the cars ahead of you.
This trick helps in driving on the road from where the water has already been dispersed, thanks to vehicles in front. Also, if you somehow, despite doing all the above, still get into the situation of aquaplaning, you should make sure that you don't brake hard or make sharp turns. Try to ease off the accelerator slowly and handle the steering wheel with both hands very firmly until the grip is regained.