5 Essential Safety Tips for Driving on Black Ice

The frigid winter months can bring about some pretty tricky driving conditions — one of them being the dreaded scenario of encountering black ice. Nearly 76% of American motorists have reported driving on black ice at some point in their lives.

Whenever possible, drivers should avoid black ice to keep themselves safe. However, if you do find yourself in a situation where you hit black ice, knowing how to react is key to avoiding an accident. And by gaining a better understanding of what black ice is, how it forms, and how to identify it, you may be able to avoid it more easily in the future.

What Is Black Ice and Why Is It So Dangerous?

The term “black ice” doesn’t refer to ice that is actually black in color. Rather, black ice is ice that blends into the road, making it very difficult to spot.

Black ice is most commonly found in cold and dark areas, like the inside of tunnels or on roadways heavily shaded by trees. When freezing rain occurs, it can leave a thin and solid sheet of ice over the roads, resulting in black ice. Likewise, when existing snow melts and then freezes back over due to dropping temperatures, this refreezing can also cause black ice.

In addition to shady road surfaces and tunnels, drivers can also encounter black ice on freeway overpasses, especially during the early morning hours when temperatures are low and the sun has yet to melt the ice.

The most dangerous thing about black ice is that it's very difficult to spot; it can blend in with the road almost seamlessly, making it difficult for drivers to see and avoid. Vehicles can quickly lose traction and go into a skid when driving, turning, or braking on patches of black ice. This makes it a leading cause of traffic accidents during the winter months.

5 Tips to Help You Drive Safely on Black Ice

So, what are some winter good driving tips to help protect yourself and other motorists from accidents caused by black ice? We've got a few practical black ice driving tips for you to keep in mind the next time you find yourself faced with harsh winter weather.

1) Be Aware of Your Surroundings and Avoid Black Ice Areas

The best way to avoid an accident caused by black ice is to avoid driving in areas prone to black ice altogether. Of course, this isn't always possible, but when you can—it's certainly worth the effort. Any time you plan to drive, take a moment to check the current weather conditions and the upcoming forecast for your drive. If temperatures are hovering around freezing (32 degrees) or near freezing and the forecast predicts precipitation (or if there’s been precipitation recently), there's a good chance you could encounter black ice while driving.

If you're worried about black ice on your route, avoid driving if at all possible. Delaying your travel, even until the afternoon hours (when the sun will likely melt away any ice from the roads), can give you some peace of mind.

If you must travel in adverse weather conditions, there are additional steps you can take to keep yourself safe. For example, consider mapping out your route to avoid any areas with a high potential for black ice. This includes roadways with tunnels, heavy shade, and bridges or highway overpasses.

No matter when or where you're driving, always pay attention to your surroundings and watch for signs of black ice. For example, if you notice cars in front of you veering or sliding, there's a good chance these vehicles are hitting slick spots. Exercise additional caution or change your route—but only if it’s possible to do so safely.

2) Resist the Temptation to Slam on Your Brakes

Even when you've been extra careful to avoid poor driving conditions, you may still find yourself hitting icy roads. That's the thing about black ice—it's sneaky about how and when it forms, and all it takes is one small patch to cause an accident. With this in mind, all drivers should know what to do—and what not to do—if they hit black ice.

The most important thing to remember is to avoid slamming on your brakes. While this may be easier said than done, as pressing down on the brake pedal is often a driver's first instinct when they start to slide or spin out, hitting your brakes hard can actually cause your tires to lock up and make the sliding worse.

Instead of slamming on the brakes, the better course of action is to immediately take your foot off the gas. This decreases your speed and gives you a better chance of regaining control of the car. From there, very lightly and calmly “pump” or tap on the brakes to slow your car down, pressing on and releasing the pedal at a moderate pace.

Note: If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), it should repeatedly tap the brakes for you once you depress the brake pedal firmly. Check your car’s manual or dashboard indicators to see if it’s equipped with ABS.

If your vehicle is equipped with paddle shifters on the steering wheel, you can also slow down more safely by shifting to a lower gear.

In addition to safely slowing down your vehicle when you hit black ice, it's also important to keep your steering wheel pointed in the direction that you want your car to travel. Avoid making any sharp or sudden movements with your steering wheel, as this can cause you to spin out.

3) Keep a Safe Distance Between You and the Car in Front of You

Keeping a safe distance between you and the car in front of you is a good safety tip for all road conditions—both good and bad. Maintaining a safe following distance between you and the car in front of you is always smart because it gives you additional reaction time to slow down, stop, or take evasive action if needed.

In icy road conditions, it’s especially important. Keeping plenty of distance between your car and the car in front of you makes it easier for you to spot signs of black ice. For example, you might notice that the car in front of you is having a hard time braking at a stop sign. This could alert you to the presence of black ice, giving you the warning you need to slow down and allow yourself more time to stop.

Likewise, if you hit black ice and cannot slow down easily, having more space between you and the car in front of you can reduce the chances of a rear-end collision.

So, how much space should you leave? In normal road conditions, about three to four seconds of distance is fine. In snowy or icy conditions, however, drivers should aim to leave at least five to six seconds (and ideally, more like eight to ten seconds) between themselves and other motorists.

Here’s how to measure the distance between you and other drivers:

Pick a fixed object along the road, like a bridge, sign, tree, or corner, and watch as the car in front of you passes it.
Count how many seconds it takes for you to pass the same object.
If you pass the object before five or six seconds have gone by, slow down to increase your distance.
Repeat this process every so often when you want to double-check.

4) Look for Areas With Better Traction

If you hit black ice and are having a hard time recovering, look for areas nearby that may have better traction and do your best to steer your vehicle towards one of these areas. Some examples of areas that may offer additional traction include patches of white snow or gravel. Redirecting to an area with more traction may help you regain control and avoid a complete skid, spin-out, or traffic collision.

If all hope of regaining control of your vehicle is lost and you can no longer stay on the road, try your best to steer your car into a snowbank, empty field, or similar impact location.

5) Stay Calm and Don’t Panic

As stressful as it can be to drive in poor road conditions, it's important to stay calm behind the wheel. Even if you hit a patch of dry ice, remaining calm will make it easier for you to keep a clear head. The calmer you remain, the more likely you are to remember some of these tips and put them into practice.

If you are driving in icy conditions and feeling stressed out, remember that there is nothing wrong with stopping somewhere safe to regain your composure. Just make sure that you pull off onto a safe section of the road (or, ideally, into a business parking lot or somewhere away from moving traffic).

Stay Safe in Icy Conditions With Clearcover

Driving in icy conditions is something most motorists will need to deal with at some point. By putting these tips into practice, you can handle black ice and other adverse winter road conditions with greater confidence.

Looking for more tips for staying safe on the road? Check out our other article on general driving safety tips. And if you’re looking for great insurance coverage that will help you feel protected this winter, Clearcover’s got your back. Get started with a free, no-obligation quote today!