Black ice is a thin coat of glazed ice on a surface. It isn’t black. It’s actually clear, but it takes on a dark coloring from the pavement below it. Because it is so thin, it is often invisible to the human eye .Black ice can form in many ways but the most common way is from melting snow on or beside the road. Black ice forms without creating bubbles, which allows it to blend in with any surface it forms over. After a winter storm, when temperatures climb above freezing during the day, snow will melt into water. Add another sharp dip in temperatures later in the afternoon or during the night and any standing water will freeze into black ice.
Black
ice forms in frigid weather conditions on highways, black ice will form due to
the heat of tires on the road coupled with the freezing temperature. Keep an
eye on the weather and highway reports. Black ice forms most commonly at night
or in the early morning when the temperatures are at their lowest, or when the
sun isn’t around to warm the roads.
Black
ice almost always forms in very smooth, very glossy sheets. This glossy surface
is your indication of potential black ice. If the majority of the road you’re
driving on appears a dull black color, but the patch just ahead of you appears
shiny, you may be about to drive onto black ice. If you are unfamiliar with
this glossy appearance, think of a nice new car’s black spray paint compared to
an older, un-kept car’s black paint job. You won’t always be able to see black
ice, but looking for it can’t hurt.
Be
extra watchful while travelling on roads that don’t get much sunshine, like the
floor of a mountain valley or along a tree lined street. Bridges and overpasses
cool from above and below and freeze much faster than other parts of the road.
Even water vapor (from rivers and streams can) under the right conditions,
freeze into black ice on the roadway. A
sign of black ice includes if you are driving and see cars suddenly swerve for
no apparent reason, black ice could have been the cause.
If you hit black ice, stay calm.
Keep the steering wheel straight and do not hit the brakes. Instead, ease off
the gas pedal and if you can shift into a lower gear to gain more control.
Steer the car in the direction you want it to go. If you have to brake, try to
brake as little as possible.
If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS),
put your foot firmly down on the brake and the car will pump the brakes as you
skid; if you don’t have ABS, pump the brakes lightly. Another tip while driving
during winter conditions – avoid
cruise control. Using cruise can actually make you
lose control, which is not a good thing. Check your tire tread. Worn tread causes
accidents in any conditions, and will ensure you lack traction when needed on
black ice. Be extra careful and slow down at on / off ramps of highways and
priority roads, the curving direction of the ramps coupled with the weight of
the vehicle and potential ice can cause the vehicle to lose traction.
“I
rolled the second car that I ever owned, a Toyota 4 Runner. This was winter in
Colorado, two weeks before the 2002 Olympic trials. I was driving in the
outside lane, and my rear tire caught some black ice, and we totally turned
sideways to the point where we were heading right toward the median. “ (Apolo Ohno)[i]
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| Black ice |
[i] Sources used:
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“Black Ice: What It Is and How to Handle It” by
TranBC
This is really helpful. I have run into alot of black ice here in Minnesota and have done a complete 180 before. Must be careful!
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