Black Ice – a Driving Disaster

As anyone in the transport industry knows, driving in poor weather can be anything from annoying to downright dangerous. The standard advice to stay off the roads unless your journey is absolutely necessary just doesn’t work for those doing courier work. Staying at home means not getting paid so it’s simply not an option.

Driving on snow is manageable if you take the right precautions. Many experienced drivers will carry snow chains in their vehicle to aid traction on particularly treacherous roads where the snow has not been cleared. Slowing down and allowing much greater stopping distances will also help, but what about when snow turns to ice and in particular, black ice?

Black ice, sometimes known as clear ice, is a thin coat of highly transparent ice on a road surface. The ice itself is not actually black, but because it is clear it allows the road surface beneath to be seen through it meaning it is virtually invisible to drivers. It often occurs when the temperature hovers around 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) and is responsible for many accidents and injuries to drivers and pedestrians alike.

The most common areas for black ice to form are shaded areas of road and bridges and overpasses. Bridges and overpasses freeze first as cold air circulates both above and below the surface of the road meaning there is no ground insulation beneath. In addition, road surfaces receiving little or no sun are also at increased risk as the sun’s warmth would ordinarily help to keep road temperatures above freezing.

So what should you do if you find yourself on a road with black ice? Although there’s no guaranteed way of making yourself completely safe, the following guidelines should help minimize the risks:

• Don’t brake. This is easier said than done for most drivers, but the last thing you want to do is lock up your wheels or apply too much braking force which could cause your vehicle to slide sideways out of control.
• Keep the steering wheel straight. In a similar manner to braking, sharp changes in your steering angle are likely to induce a slide.
• Take your foot off the gas. This will allow the vehicle to decelerate naturally and you should aim to keep the vehicle moving in a straight line until you feel traction being restored.
• Head for areas of traction. If you can see textured ice, snow covered areas or even sandy areas, try to gently steer towards them as they will provide more traction than the ice you’re currently on.

Although the above steps should be second nature to experienced drivers, many couriers and especially those who are new to the business may not have much experience of these extreme conditions. Briefing drivers on the actions to take should be an essential part of any transport business’ training regime during the winter months.