I can't speak for the rest of the world, but here in the northeast U.S. this winter has been pretty tame. Not a whole lot of snow yet, and only a handful of days that stayed below freezing. And as I sit here watching a rare dusting of overnight snow melt away with the afternoon rain, dreading the weekend cold front we've been promised, I'm reminded of something much more sinister: Black Ice.
If you've heard the term, it's likely to have been associated with some sort of accident (car, walking, etc.) People often overuse “black ice” to describe all patches of ice on the road, but it's actually a very specific type of ice formation that blends in with the road or sidewalk, and it's nasty, dangerous stuff. Here's why:
It's not black, it's clear
The single most dangerous thing about black ice is how hard it is to spot. For one: there's little “black” about it. In fact, the only reason we call it “black ice” at all is because the asphalt underneath it is usually black and other formations of ice are white by contrast and easy to spot. When black ice forms, it is virtually transparent, giving the appearance of wetness. During the day, black ice can be seen as darker patches of the road and are nearly impossible to distinguish from moisture or small shallow puddles. But during the night, it almost disappears altogether.
Black ice is most dangerous at night
Not only is black ice hardest to see at night, but because that's when the temperature is coldest it's also most likely to form at night too. During the day, snow pack and ice thaws and spreads out across the ground, including roads. Then, when the temperature drops suddenly, small puddles and runoff freezes rapidly, which is the ideal condition for black ice.
False security of a sunny day
Another reason black ice is so dangerous is the fact that it can be present on a perfectly sunny day in the winter so long as it's cold enough. Days when there's no precipitation to worry drivers about potentially hazardous conditions, is a dangerous false sense of security. In fact, sometimes, a sunny day is what's needed for black ice to form. The sun hits a pile of snow, which starts to melt. The runoff then finds its way to a shady spot on the road and instantly freezes creating a patch of black ice. Drivers will think it's just another wet spot on the road from the thawing power of the sun, but they could be in for a big surprise. The picture to the left is a great example of a road during a sunny day that caused multiple accidents due to these ripe conditions for daytime black ice.
It's extra slick
Have you ever gone ice skating on a frozen pond or lake during the winter? I remember skating across a lake when I was young and being able to tell (very vividly) what parts of the ice were smooth by how dark and clear it looked and which parts were rougher by the defined patches of white. When the lake was smoothest, it almost looked like glass and you could slide for what seemed like forever. The white ice, wasn't quite as fun to slide on.
Black ice isn't just harder to spot, it's also a good amount slicker than snow and other type of icy formations. That means it will not only be easier to lose control and start slipping, but it will be that much harder to regain control.
How to prepare for black Ice
It's not easy to prepare for black ice. It almost always catches its victims by surprise, but there are a few telling signs to look for. First of all, if it's below freezing and the road looks wet, there's a good chance it is slick even if it's not frozen. But if it is frozen, you could be in trouble if you don't tread carefully (no pun intended). Black ice usually forms days after winter precipitation and a decent thaw melted snow and ice banks into the road and re-froze. So as long as there's runoff to be had, you must be aware of the potential for black ice.
One of the best ways to be prepared for black ice is proper tires. Typical all weather and snow tires simply aren't enough. They're designed for maximum traction in snowy and rainy conditions, but they'll still slip on ice. The best tires for black ice have small metal studs that can cut through the ice to grip the road beneath it. They're not perfect, but certainly a better option for areas susceptible to the worst kind of winter driving conditions. Short of that or snow chains, you're tires proabably won't do much good when you hit black ice.
Don't panic
So what do you do if you encounter black ice? First things first: don't panic. Slamming the breaks or turning quickly will probably only make matters worse. Pump your breaks lightly and slowly turn the wheel into the direction of the slide. Of course: all of this sounds a lot easier than it is, as you have fractions of a second to react, but if you can remain some composure, you're much more likely to maintain or regain control.
Drive safe!
Facebook Comments