Holiday & Cold Weather Tips

Black ice isn’t actually black. It’s regular ice that forms on road surfaces with the exception that it has fewer air bubbles, which makes it harder to spot. Instead of ice, it tends to look like innocuous wet spots on pavement. It commonly forms when the temperature of the ground reaches freezing while rain or sleet continues to fall. It also forms more often at night because the sun melts ice and snow, which then refreezes when the temperature drops. (Morning commutes become particularly treacherous with black ice.) Problem areas are around curves, at the bases of inclines, and anywhere else water collects on a roadway.

Spotting black ice is tricky because it looks like water. The best thing to do is to be aware of the weather conditions. If it’s below freezing or supposed to drop below freezing while you’re out driving, assume that every wet spot you see is a patch of black ice. That may seem like overkill, but you’d be surprised how many times that assumption will prevent a spin-out or worse. If your car has an external temperature display inside and reads 32 degrees or below, any wet spots you see are likely black ice.

Driving on black ice is difficult to avoid. First, you have to keep your eyes open for it. (And you have to be lucky enough to spot it.) If you see a spot you think might be black ice, drive around it as long as it’s safe to do so. It’s also a good idea to know the places in your town or city that are particularly prone to black ice and to avoid them whenever you have to drive in freezing temperatures. Finally, keep your eyes open for skid marks or stranded motorists. There’s a good chance you’re not the first one to have found the black ice!

You’ll want to go slow and steady over patches of black ice. Unlike snow, which still offers a little traction for your tires, black ice is completely smooth, and your tires won’t stick at all. As a result, it can be difficult to stop if you’re going too fast. When you reach a patch of black ice, take your foot off the accelerator immediately.

Additionally, keeping a straight wheel is advisable since you should be able to coast safely over the ice. If you turn your wheel while driving on black ice, you’ll increase the likelihood of losing control of your vehicle. If you start to skid and have to turn, be sure to turn into the skid.

Brakes can be your best friend in many driving emergencies, but not black ice skids. When you approach black ice, let off the brake before your tires make contact. If you’re going too fast and need to brake a little, pump the brakes to avoid going into a full-on skid. Don’t slam on the brakes under any circumstances—you’ll only make your situation worse by doing so.

One of the biggest mistakes drivers make when driving on black ice is overcorrecting a skid. This can compound the problem quickly by sending the car spinning in the other direction. Gently turn into the skid while pumping the brakes. As the skid breaks, return the steering wheel to normal. Once your tires get traction on the road again, you should find it easy to correct from there.

Most cars these days come with an external thermometer. Pay attention to the reading during the winter months, and if it drops to freezing (32 degrees F), expect that you’ll run into black ice somewhere. To be extra safe, use caution even when the reading is only near freezing as many car thermometers pick up heat readings from the engine, which can make it seem warmer outside than it actually is.