Invisible and deadly, black ice is one of the worst hazards drivers can encounter. It is a thin sheet of ice with virtually no air bubbles, so it is completely transparent. Black ice typically looks like damp or dry asphalt, and that is the deception. Drivers see it and think that the road is perfectly fine. It can form without noticeable precipitation from moisture on the road or after snow and ice have melted and refrozen. Black ice is smooth like glass, making it far more slick than regular ice and snow.
Black Ice Driving Tips
Maintaining control of your vehicle on black ice is very difficult. On top of dealing with your own vehicle, you have to be looking out even more than usual for the people around you who may not be aware of the conditions.
- Keep your distance from other vehicles. You will not be able to stop or slow down suddenly.
- Watch for vehicles ahead of you losing control or braking suddenly.
- Do not hit the brakes. Slowly back off of the accelerator to slow down.
- Keep it slow and steady – no sudden maneuvers.
- Do not overcorrect if you start to slide.
Black Ice Accidents
Black ice accidents can be very severe. Rollover is not uncommon. Black ice can lead to multicar pileups because approaching drivers who are unaware of the ice are not able to stop or maneuver around vehicles that have already crashed. On busy highways this quickly leads to a massive chain reaction. People who get out of their cars, even those who are out of the flow of traffic, are often run over by vehicles that lose control and fly off of the road or by the cars that approaching drivers slam into and send flying.
If you have been injured in a black ice accident, you may have legal recourse. Please browse our directory of accident attorneys to connect with an experienced accident attorney in your area.
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