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Black ice is one of the biggest dangers that you can encounter on the road today. Black ice is a hidden danger that can impact your driving without you ever realizing it. Whether you are currently taking driving lessons or you have had your license for a long time, it's important to know what black ice is, why it's dangerous, and what to do if you encounter it.

What Is Black Ice?

Black ice is a dangerous phenomenon that is known to cause many alert drivers to lose control of their vehicles, but what exactly is black ice? What causes the phenomenon known as black ice? Black ice is not exactly invisible, as many people are wont to say, but it can easily blend in with the background, because it is essentially ice that is just forming.

Black ice occurs when the surface of a road is 32 degrees or less, which is the temperature at which freezing conditions begin, but the air above it is warmer. When it rains, the droplets fall to the ground as water, but upon contact with the ground, they turn into ice. It often blends into the road so that it is largely undetectable by the human eye. Black ice also tends to form under light snowfall, which obscures it from detection. Remember, black ice can form if the temperature of the air is above freezing, so even things such as heavy rainfall under the right conditions can cause black ice. 

Why Is Black Ice Dangerous?

Black ice is dangerous due to the fact that when it comes to matters of detection, it is very hard, and sometimes it is even impossible, for people to see it. As such, people believe that they are driving on road with relatively safe conditions, and drive in a manner in which they would drive on dry, non-icy roads, when they actually should be driving more cautiously.

People tend to drive faster speeds and perhaps a bit more "loosely" than they would if they knew there were awful driving conditions that abound.

There are also more substantive reasons for black ice being dangerous. Black ice creates a condition of iciness and water, which means that your vehicle has a greater tendency to slide and also has very little in the way of traction. There are numerous tips that one can give for driving under such conditions.

Tips For Driving On Black Ice

Black ice should never be taken lightly. First and foremost, the biggest problem with driving on black ice is that people don't realize that they're about to hit a patch of black ice. This is why it pays to preventative in the conditions that create black ice.

If you are driving in weather in which ice can occur, or if you believe it is cold enough that the black ice phenomenon can occur, then drive accordingly. Firstly, make sure that you aren't engaging in any activities that would result in distracted driving, and keep your eyes strictly peeled to the road. Ensure that you are maintaining a wide following distance from the car in front of you. Maintain alertness and if you notice cars ahead of you slipping and sliding, start to slow down and prepare to hit a patch of black ice. When you do hit a patch of black ice, do not hit your brakes, but take your foot off of the acceleration pedal and steer the car into a stable position.

Black ice can be a dangerous phenomenon, but with these tips you should find yourself being able to avoid any problems should you come into contact with it.