Icy conditions can be dangerous, and even worse, nearly
invisible. Winter driving isn't just about dealing with
snow; ice on the road is a real threat. Black ice, in
particular, is dangerous because it's invisible (the term
"black ice" being somewhat of a misnomer, as the ice is
transparent). However, you can protect yourself by
understanding and knowing how to deal with this winter
issue.
!! Steps !!
Understand that black ice is regular ice. It is a glaze that forms
on surfaces (especially roads, sidewalks, and driveways) because of
a light freezing rain or because of melting and re-freezing of snow,
water, or ice on surfaces. It's called "black ice" because it tends
to look like the rest of the pavement on the road, although in
reality, it's actually clear. Black ice forms without creating
bubbles, which allows it to blend in with any surface it forms
over.[1] Black ice is dangerous precisely because it's hard to
detect in advance.
Know where to expect black ice. Black ice usually forms just about
the freezing point. Sometimes 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.[2]
* Black ice tends to form on parts of the road without much
sunshine, such as along a tree-lined route or a tunnel. It will
also form more frequently on roads that are less traveled on.
* Black ice forms readily on bridges, overpasses and the road
beneath overpasses.[3] This is because the cold air is able to
cool both the top and under the bridge or overpass, bringing about
faster freezing.[4]
Know when to expect black ice. Black ice tends to form in the early
morning and evening. During the daylight hours, the road is usually
warmer and less likely to create black ice. But remember: less
likely does not mean "never". Always be prepared for the possibility
of encountering black ice.
* See the signs of black ice. If you are driving and see cars
suddenly swerve for no apparent reason, black ice is a likely
cause.
Practice driving on slippery surfaces. If possible, (and with a
seasoned winter driver) practice driving on ice in a safe
surrounding. Find a nice, large, empty parking lot with ice on it.
Drive on ice. Practice braking on ice. Understand how your car feels
and handles in these conditions. Know what ABS braking feels like if
you have it. Practicing this under controlled conditions can
actually be a lot of fun!
Deal with a black ice encounter. If you do drive on black ice, the
first reaction must be to remain calm. You will probably want to
respond quickly to try and counteract what is happening but the
general rule is to do nothing or the minimum and let the car pass
over it.[5] If you feel your car drifting, make a very gentle turn
of the steering wheel in the same direction as the drifting. If you
try to struggle against it by steering in the opposite direction,
you risk skidding or spinning out (see below for what to do if this
happens). Try to stay in your own lane by keeping the steering wheel
straight. Slow down by de-accelerating. Lift your feet off the
accelerator completely and keep your steering wheel fixed in the
position it's in.[6] Slowing down will give you more control and
prevent needless damage.
* *Do not* touch the brakes. Doing so will likely cause you to skid.
The idea is to slide over the ice in the direction the steering
wheel is facing; usually black ice patches aren't longer than 20
feet (6 metres).
If you can, shift into a low gear. Low gears will give you more
traction and control.
Head for areas of traction. Black ice is virtually invisible, but
you may be able to head towards areas of pavement that offer more
traction. Such areas of traction may include textured ice,
snow-covered areas, spots with sand, etc.
If you skid or lose traction, stay calm. Hopefully, you are now
going slow and this will make it easier. Black ice is often
(although not always) patchy, so hopefully your tires will soon find
traction. Use the minimum amount of braking possible, although some
braking will be necessary if skidding a lot, as follows:
* If you have anti-lock braking system (ABS), just put your foot on
the brake, apply firm pressure and the car will pump the brakes
for you as you skid.[7]
* If you don't have ABS, pump the brakes gently as you skid.[8]
* Always steer the car in the direction you want to car to go.
* If you end up going off the road, try to steer into things that
will cause the minimum amount of damage. Ideally, steer into an
empty field, a yard, or a fluffy snowbank. Of course, you may not
have much choice in the matter, but you can at least try.
Stay calm and keep your wits about you - this is fixable After the
black ice encounter, stay calm. You're likely to be a bit rattled,
but panicking isn't going to help at any stage. If you must keep
driving, do so very, very slowly. Alert other drivers that you're
going slowly by flashing your lights at all times.
Get off the road as soon as possible. It's better to wait a while at
a rest stop, diner, or even on the side of the road until the road
crews can salt and/or sand the roads than to deal with an accident.
This will also provide you with a chance to recover your senses and
feel less panicked. Have a hot drink and relax a while.
* If there is a pile up: Very rarely ice and/or black ice can make
extremely hazardous conditions that can cause multi-car accidents
on a highway. You will have to evaluate quickly whether staying in
your car (where you have some safety protection) or getting out
(where you can flee further collisions but will have to walk on
icy surfaces, in freezing temperatures, with other cars spinning
out of control around you) is safer. Consider your location, the
speed of travel, geographic location, your warmth, and your
physical abilities.
Prevent or minimize future encounters with black ice. There are
several things that you can do to reduce the chances of being
surprised by black ice. While knowing how to drive on it remains a
number one priority, here are some other things to do:
* Travel slowly. Don't try to speed during icy weather as this will
take away any control you might have had on the black ice.
* Don't tailgate.
* Keep your windshield clear of ice, snow, dirt, and anything else
that can prevent you from seeing out of it properly. To get snow
and ice off the windshield of your car, you might be tempted to
turn on your windshield wipers. It might seem like the wipers and
the washer fluid will work, but they don't. In fact, if you use
your windshield wipers to get ice off the windshield, you could
ruin them. Use an ice scraper to scrape the ice from the
windshield of your car before starting the vehicle.[9]
* Turn your headlights on early in the afternoon to help you see any
possible sheen from black ice.
* Check your tire tread. Worn tread causes accidents in any
conditions, and will ensure you lack traction when needed on black
ice. In addition, consider having snow tires fitted.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* If you have ABS brakes, know how they feel when they engage so you
don't panic and that you understand what denotes slippery
conditions–even if your car is still in control.
* A good tip for any ice driving is to avoid sudden movements.
Quickly turning your tires, accelerating or braking can cause you
to lose traction.
* Have snow tires fitted before the temperatures drop low enough to
cause black ice. This is especially important if you're traveling
outside your urban areas and you're not familiar with the roads
and weather conditions.
* If the weather is bad and the conditions are likely to result in
black ice, try to stay home and avoid driving at all.
* Walking and cycling on black ice is also dangerous and can cause
you to slip. Cyclists need to take extra care as slipping can lead
you into the pathway of car and truck traffic.
!! Warnings !!
* Remember that zero percent traction is still zero percent
traction. Even if you have all-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive, or an
SUV, once you lose traction the car itself won't help you. Drive
safely and cautiously no matter what your vehicle is.
* Never use cruise control in snowy or icy conditions. You need to
be in full control at all times.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* Snow tires
* Functioning headlights
* Defensive driving experience in winter conditions (optional but
reassuring)
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Stay Awake when Driving in the Winter
* How to Survive a Winter Storm
* How to Drive a Car in Winter Weather
* How to Start a Car in Freezing Cold Winter Weather
* How to Add ICE to Your Cell Phone
!! Sources And Citations !!
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
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