Hydroplaning, or aquaplaning, is a term that refers to the tires or wheels of a vehicle of any size losing contact with the road surface due to standing liquids. This dangerous situation occurs when a layer or sheet of water (or other liquid) builds up on a roadway and the tires of a vehicle glide on top of the water instead of its treads keeping traction with the road underneath. Even thin layers of water can cause this, and hydroplaning can result in losing control of the vehicle completely, even risking flipping, jerking uncontrollably, or crashing into other vehicles or infrastructure. To avoid hydroplaning, it is important to always check the treads and inflation of tires before driving, particularly in inclement weather conditions.