New technology being developed by researchers from Coventry University could spell an end to the age-old danger of aquaplaning.
Can't clear water fast enough
Aquaplaning occurs when your tyres can't clear standing water out of the way fast enough, allowing water to build up under the tyre. Once that happens, you effectively have no grip at all, and you're going to be a passenger in whatever happens next...
To guard against aquaplaning, which can happen with as little as 2-3mm of water on the surface of the road, we're usually given two pieces of advice; slow down, and make sure your tyres have decent tread depth.
Now, though, Professor Mike Blundell and Ravi Ranjan from Coventry University's Research Centre for Future Transport and Cities have produced the Run Dry Traction System (RDTS) following a two-year research project.
A blast of compressed gas
The idea behind RDTS is to direct a high-speed blast of compressed gas in front of the leading edge of the tyre. This blast temporarily clears away much of the standing water from the road surface, allowing the tyre to bite more easily through to the asphalt, and allowing the tyre's treads to more easily clear away any remaining water. It can also clear away accumulations of sand and gravel from in front of an approaching tyre.
Professor Mike Blundell, Professor of Vehicle Dynamics and Impact at Coventry University, said: "Our tests demonstrate that RDTS has the potential to make a huge impact on vehicle safety in a whole host of conditions. The prospect of producing something that could even save lives on the road is extremely exciting and after some initial success with testing, we're now eager to look into manufacturing potential and further research to take this concept to the next level.
The difference between life and death
"A device like this really could be the difference between life and death if it can help vehicles to stop safely within certain distances and that's why we're so keen to continue developing this concept."
The RDTS system could potentially work on any kind of car, SUV, or van, and has also been mooted for motorbikes and even aircraft and trains (no more leaves on the line...).