If there is a deep puddle in the road ahead, what action should you take?

Steering your vehicle around the water is the safest action to take when encountering a deep puddle. Deep puddles can conceal hazards such as potholes, debris, or even more serious conditions like flooding, which can lead to loss of control or even damage to your vehicle. By avoiding the puddle entirely, you minimize the risk of hydroplaning, where your tires lose contact with the road due to water, which can lead to dangerous driving situations.

Driving through the puddle, even carefully, could still cause issues such as splashing water onto other vehicles, loss of traction, or damaging the vehicle’s undercarriage if the water is deeper than it appears. Slowing down and proceeding through the water may reduce speed-related hazards but does not eliminate the potential dangers inherent to unknown water depths or obstacles hidden underneath. Turning back and finding an alternate route could be a reasonable choice in some scenarios, but if it’s safe to steer around the puddle, that is often the most efficient and safest solution.