In the trade, the practice of etching the groves in wet concrete pavement is called "tining." It is done by a machine immediately after the slipform paver places the concrete. The groves provide miniature drains to channel rainwater off the road surface. Concrete roadways, are, in my opinion, much superior to asphalt in this respect. Asphalt will rut over time and act to collect the water, causing hydroplaning.