As winter sets in, black ice becomes a common danger for vehicles and pedestrians alike.
“Black ice” is the term used for ice that is completely transparent, which allows for the surface beneath to show through. It is a potentially lethal hazard for unprepared or underskilled drivers.
“I was driving home [a cold evening] and had to go down a hill and make a turn,” Mr. Zach Williams, teacher, said. “I hit a patch of black ice and slid off the road right into the ditch.”
The reason the ice is so dangerous is because of its transparent nature and smooth surface, which causes drivers to lose traction and steering easily.
The way that this ice forms is by a lack of air bubbles. When water freezes slowly or in small amounts at a time, like drizzling rain or dew, it creates a smooth surface that lacks any air bubbles. This lack of air bubbles is critical because the air bubbles are what can make ice appear opaque. The more air bubbles, the foggier the ice.
The fact that the ice blends in seamlessly with the pavement makes it a nearly imperceptible hazard to drivers until they drive over it. It is also dangerous to pedestrians for the same reason.
“I have hit black ice before,” Mrs. Bishop, English teacher, said, “My vehicle was not damaged; I was able to correct the vehicle spin. Black ice makes me very nervous about traveling in the dark or when the temperature drops during a freezing rain.”
There isn’t really any way to avoid it other than to avoid the areas where it commonly forms. This would include bridges, places that get little sun, and roads near bodies of water.
If a driver does unfortunately drive onto a patch of black ice, the best thing to do is to not slam on the brakes, steer straight, and let the foot off the gas until the driver is off the ice, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
