Final answer:
When hydroplaning, it is important to steer and brake gently to safely regain traction on the road. Hard braking or acceleration can worsen the situation, and maintaining speed without adjusting to the conditions is not recommended.
Step-by-step explanation:
If your vehicle starts to hydroplane, the correct action to take is c) Steer and brake gently until you regain traction. Hard braking can make the situation worse by causing a loss of steering and vehicle control. Similarly, accelerating could increase the hydroplane effect. Keeping the same speed may not be safe either as it doesn't address the loss of traction. The goal is to regain contact with the road surface, which is done by reducing speed without abrupt changes that may lead to a skid.
It is similar to when encountering a river swollen with rain; one must wait until conditions improve. This principle of caution also applies in driving situations where the vehicle must be brought to a safe speed in alignment with the conditions of the road so as to avoid accidents. In emergency scenarios such as an ambulance approaching, the best course of action would be to a. Stop moving and become stationary to allow it to pass safely.