Tips For Driving On Black Ice
Black ice is usually found on roadways when temperatures hover around 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
We’ll be listing some valuable tips in the this article to help keep you safe from black ice when driving in black ice conditions.
What Is Black Ice?
Black ice is essentially glazed, transparent films of ice spread across various portions of the road. It’s referred to as “black ice” due to its translucent appearance, which allows you to see the black pavement underneath it.
Often, drivers aren’t able to spot these ice formations on the road because black ice can be extremely thin, rendering it almost invisible. This is what makes it even more of a safety hazard for unsuspecting drivers.
How To Identify Black Ice
To be able to drive safely on black ice, you must first be able to spot it. Even though it’s not always easily noticeable due to the way it blends in with the road, by maintaining focus on the road ahead, you have a much better chance of spotting it.
When driving in daylight, ensure to scan the pavement ahead. Slow down and avoid braking whenever you spot a patch that appears glossy, wet, and/or slightly darker than other areas of the road. Apply this same technique when driving at night. With your headlights on, you should be able to spot black ice on the road surface much easier.
Another way to watch out for black ice is by checking the tires of the vehicle ahead of you. If you notice drops of water splashing off the tires of the car in front of you, this is a sign that there’s no black ice in the road ahead. Inversely, if you don’t see water spraying up from the tires in front of you, slow down and keep an eye out for dark patches on the road.
How To Avoid Slipping On Black Ice while Driving
Icy conditions are pretty common in the United States. In fact, over 23% of traffic-related crashes are due to slushy ice pavements. The best safety tip for coping with black ice is to avoid it whenever possible. Below are practical techniques to avoid black ice when driving in winter conditions.
1. Fight The Urge To Slam The Brakes
It’s perfectly normal to want to slam the brakes when your vehicle begins to spin out after you hit black ice. However, braking abruptly on black ice can cause your vehicle to skid, doubling the chances of a crash. Rather than slamming the brakes, gently take your foot off the accelerator and slowly tap on the brakes till your vehicle stops.
2. Always Keep Your Steering Wheel Straight
This will help keep your vehicle from skidding into other cars. If your car suddenly begins to drift toward either direction, resist the urge to drastically turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction to stay on the correct path.
3. Shift Into Lower Gear To Slow Your Vehicle Down
To slow down when driving on black ice, gently take your foot off the pedal and shift into low gear or use your vehicle’s paddle shifters as they provide more control. It’s best to maintain a reasonable following distance since it can be challenging to avoid drifting into other cars headed in the same direction, even with an excellent braking system.
4. Avoid Slippery Areas As Much As You Can
Stick to road areas with sand or white snow to maintain traction. You can also look for gravel or sandy areas as they provide more traction and give drivers full control when driving in winter months and adverse weather conditions. The most important thing is to avoid driving fast on overpasses and bridges no matter how clear or safe they appear, as there might be a thin sheet of ice lying around.
5. Stay Calm
Staying calm and collected is one of the most effective ways to ensure you don’t lose control when driving in snowy or icy conditions. Worrying about encountering black ice will do nothing more than cloud your judgment and probably even make your fears a reality.
If you ever feel stressed when behind the wheel, it’s never a good idea to keep driving. Instead, pull over and take a moment to regain your composure. You can continue driving only when you feel like you’re in the right frame of mind. To avoid getting hit by oncoming vehicles, you mustn’t stop on the shoulder of the road. If there’s no safe parking spot, wait until you get to the nearest parking area.
6. Practice Driving On Icy Surfaces If You Don’t Have Snow Tires
Practice is the best way to enhance your winter driving skills. Any open pavement or empty parking lot without vehicles and people should do. Keep practicing until you become familiar with the ways your vehicle performs on slippery surfaces. It will help you come up with suitable reaction techniques that you can apply in actual icy road conditions.
It’s essential to check out local weather reports to know whether it’s safe to head out. If you see ice forming on the side of your mirrors when driving in the snow, this indicates that there’s likely to be black ice on the road.
7. Use Proper Tires
Never drive in winter weather with worn-out or low-grade tires. Prepare your vehicle against icy surfaces by checking your tires regularly to ensure that you have appropriately inflated them or equip your vehicle with winter tires for better traction.
8. Disable Cruise Control
Activating cruise control is not a wise course of action in icy conditions. You’ll need full steering control if your vehicle loses traction in areas where black ice forms.
What Time Does Black Ice Form
Black ice tends to form around the time the sun comes up. It’s not uncommon to encounter it as the day gets darker as the weather becomes slightly cooler during such times. Drivers must be cautious when going on early morning drives, especially when the temperature is 35 degrees or less.
One of the possible causes of black ice is when there’s a sudden freezing rain shower during extremely cold temps. When raindrops fall through the cold air unto the ground, they’re likely to solidify and form thin, slippery sheets of ice.
Places Where Black Ice Is Likely To Form
Below are areas where black ice forms and remains the longest.
1. Shaded Areas
It’s not uncommon to find black ice patches on roads and pavements shaded by tall buildings. Unknowingly driving on a solid and particularly slippery sheet is more than capable of sending a vehicle with low traction support off course.
2. Underpasses
Like a shaded underpass, parts of the road with little or no access to sunlight are likely to be covered with patches of black ice even with slight drops in temperature. It’s essential to stay focused on the road and mind your speed when driving around such areas.
3. Overpasses And Bridges
Road signs with the words “bridge freezes before road” are a solemn reminder of the risks of driving carelessly on bridges and overpasses during winter. You could be driving in winter with the temperatures just beginning to drop, only to get to a bridge or overpass and find it covered in black ice.
Conclusion
Practicing safety driving techniques on black ice sounds a lot easier than it is. Even experienced drivers have occasional run-ins with black ice and do not always make it out with their vehicles unscathed. This is why it’s essential to understand road safety rules thoroughly and always be vigilant when driving in icy conditions.
