Winter driving is hazardous enough, with rain, sleet, snow and cold temperatures making driving stressful, but at least these conditions are clearly visible. Safe drivers adjust their driving accordingly by slowing down, putting snow tires or chains on their car, or shifting into four-wheel drive (if they have it). But there’s another hazard that is worse because it is virtually undetectable – black ice.
Black ice is different. Actually it isn’t actually black at all, it’s transparent. It gets its name from the color of the road beneath, which is dark and shows through the ice. When conditions are right, a thin, smooth layer of ice forms on the road surface, making it difficult to see. Black ice tends to look like just wet spots on the pavement.
What Causes Black Ice?
Black ice forms when the temperature gets near freezing (32 degrees F) while it is raining or sleeting. It is more common in the early morning hours or at night. Warmer daytime temperatures melt snow and ice, then it refreezes as a glaze of ice when the temperature drops. Most of the time you don’t know you’re on black ice until it’s too late!
How to Spot Black Ice
Since black ice tends to look like water, it’s important to stay alert to current weather conditions. Check the weather forecast before venturing out. If your car has an external temperature and it indicates near-freezing temperatures, anything that looks like water on the road is very likely black ice. And if it’s in tree-lined, shady spot on the road, the chances it’s black ice go up considerably.
While it is mostly invisible, in the right daylight conditions black ice can be seen. It usually forms in smooth, glossy sheets. If the patch of road in front of you appears shiny, chances are you are about to encounter black ice.
Tips for Staying Safe
If you see an area that might be black ice, change lanes or drive around it if possible. If that’s unavoidable, then slowly decrease your speed and make sure if you’re using cruise control to disengage it. Keep both hands on the steering wheel and continue to steer in the direction you’re going. Do not hit your brakes or make any sudden turns, as that could send you into a spin-out.
Slow and Steady. Just like driving in snow, you want to go slow and steady. But, while snow offers some traction, black ice is very smooth and you will lose traction no matter whether you have snow tires or four-wheel drive. The more you maintain a steady speed, the better off you’ll be. Also, keep the steering wheel straight as you pass over the ice. If you turn the wheel suddenly while you’re over the ice, chances are you’ll lose control of the vehicle!
Avoid Hitting Your Brakes. When you approach black ice, brake slightly, then take your foot off the brakes before you roll over it. If you’re still going too fast and need to brake, pump your brakes lightly to avoid going into an uncontrollable spin. If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, put steady pressure on the brakes and they will automatically pump the brakes to help decrease speed. Don’t ever slam on the brakes as that will only magnify the problem!
Adjust for the Skid. If your car is sent into a skid, don’t overcorrect it. Instead, turn in the direction of the skid. If you feel the back end of your car sliding left or right, make a gentle turn of the steering wheel in the same direction. As the car comes out of the skid make sure to turn the steering wheel back to straight.
Studded tires, Tire Chains, and Four-Wheel Drive. While these features are helpful in snow, they will be of very little help on black ice. It allows no traction, so no matter what kind of tires you have they won’t grip the road effectively. Remember: zero percent traction is still zero percent traction, so slow down!
If Things Go Wrong, Find a Safe Place to Land
If you don’t end up successfully navigating the black ice and begin to skid off the road, there may not be a lot of options as to where you end up. Try to straighten out the wheel and continue on your way. But, if you are heading off the road, try to find the least damaging place to come to a stop. Fluffy snow or a grassy field is a far better landing than a guard rail, tree or another vehicle.
In addition, if you’re driving an SUV, van, truck or jacked-up pickup they have a higher center of gravity, so the potential for a roll-over is higher during a skid. When driving one of these vehicles, it’s important to be even more careful. Four-wheel drive studded tires or tire chains won’t help when a vehicle is on its side.
The best idea is to practice safe driving techniques at all times when driving in freezing or near-freezing conditions. Slow down and pay attention to the road ahead of you. Put the phone away and don’t get distracted by the radio or the kids in the back. The life you save may be your own (or your family’s).
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Source: www.fs.usda.gov
