When a car is skidding or hydroplaning, what may not affect the car's direction?

When a car is skidding or hydroplaning, the steering wheel's ability to influence the car's direction is significantly impaired. This occurs because both skidding and hydroplaning involve a loss of traction between the tires and the road surface. When the tires are not firmly gripping the road, turning the steering wheel does not translate into the expected change in direction of the vehicle, as the car will continue to slide in the direction it was moving due to inertia.

In contrast, the actions of accelerating and braking can directly impact a skidding or hydroplaning situation by either increasing speed (which can worsen loss of control) or decreasing speed (which may help regain traction). The time of day doesn't have a direct effect on the car's direction during these conditions, but may influence visibility and other driving factors. Therefore, the steering wheel is the option that does not effectively influence the direction of the vehicle during skidding or hydroplaning events.