I wanted to take a moment to discuss the dangers of hydroplaning, and ways our roads can prevent the chance of hydroplaning happening. For those who don’t know, hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds up between your tires and the road, which can then lead to:

• One: Loss of control. When tires lose contact with the road, steering, braking and accelerating become ineffective making control of the vehicle difficult, leading to sudden jerking of the wheel or skidding.

• Two: Increase in accidents. The chance of an accident greatly increases when hydroplaning is a factor. When driving at higher speeds, rounding a corner, or in heavy rain, a vehicle can easily slide into oncoming traffic or off the road.

I’m bringing this up because I feel the Oregon Department of Transportation needs to fix the way the road drains between mile markers 88 and 90 on U.S. Highway 30. During heavy rain, puddles of water build up between these mile markers.

Personally, I drive this road daily, increasing my risk of an accident during the rainy seasons of the year.

LUKAS MASTERS
Knappa