It may not seem like it, but there's plenty you can do to avoid hydroplaning. Here are some suggestions.

• Slow down. If the roads are wet, reduce your speed by 5-10 mph or more if you see standing water.

• Don't use cruise control when roads are wet. Instead, rely on manual control so you're intently paying attention to the road

• Steer clear of puddles and standing water. If possible, avoid driving through water that has pooled on the road

• Make the right turn. You may be inclined to turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction of where your car is sliding. However, that's move. Instead, turn the wheel toward the direction that you're sliding.

• Inspect your tires. Take a look at your tires at least once a month to ensure the tread depth is at least 2/32nd of an inch. You may have hea easy way to check tread depth — just take a penny and place it in one of the tire's grooves with Abe Lincoln's head facing the base of the tread doesn't cover any part of Lincoln's head, the tire is at or below 2/32nd of an inch and should be replaced.

• Track vehicles in front of you. If cars ahead of you leave tracks on a slick road, try to drive in those tracks. Those tracks mean some water on already been dispersed.

• Maintain a safe distance. Even without hydroplaning, stopping distances increase dramatically in the rain. Increase your following distance usual 2 or 3 seconds to 3 or 4 seconds or more to allow for this.

• Properly inflate your tires. Underinflated or overinflated tires can increase your chance of hydroplaning. Check your tire pressure often and match your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations.

• Get your tires rotated and balanced regularly. Tire rotation helps extend the tread life of your tires. It's typically recommended that rotation every 5,000 miles. Among other benefits, balancing the tires can help decrease tread wear. A standard recommendation for tire balancing is to 6,000 miles.