What Is Black Ice?
The term Black ice comes from the ice that freezes and becomes thin and almost transparent. As a result, black ice blends in with the black pavement of the road and becomes extremely slippery. A car accident attorney from Robert J. DeBry & Associates may offer further legal advice in case of an accident or personal injury.
What Causes Black Ice?
Warmer conditions can cause snow to melt. Unfortunately, a return to colder conditions can cause that melt to refreeze, thus resulting in ice on paved surfaces. Besides this, ice can also form when colder conditions cause fog to freeze.
Black ice is often found on bridges, overpasses, and shaded locations on the roads. Bridges and overpasses are more prone to this because they are elevated. Thanks to that, cold air can flow beneath them, thus lowering their temperature. Shaded locations receive less sunlight during the day, having a similar effect.
Why Is Black Ice So Dangerous for Drivers?
Driving over ice is always dangerous. However, going over black ice is even more difficult because people can’t see it very well. Due to it being almost unseen, black ice often causes accidents or collisions. In case of a car accident, a car accident attorney from Robert J. DeBry & Associates may help.
The general recommendation for someone who has hit a patch of black ice is to remain calm. Drivers are recommended to slow their vehicle by taking their foot off the accelerator, avoiding hitting the brakes, and avoiding over-correcting their steering. They should regain control by gently turning into the skidding. After which, they should accelerate gently because there could be other patches of black ice on the road.