Click to hear our ad:  BLACK ICE SAFETY

Black ice can be one of the most dangerous winter road conditions. It is clear and appears black, because the dark road surface underneath shows through. It is virtually impossible to see and can catch a driver off guard. Roads in shady areas, areas near lakes and rivers, in tunnels and on overpasses are particularly susceptible to black ice.

Drivers can increase safety by observing the following tips:

• Be aware that black ice is almost invisible.
• Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and tunnels and in early morning when the air temperature is rising faster than the pavement temperature.
• Touch your brake pedal lightly if you need to brake. Applying too much pressure to your brakes while on ice will cause a vehicle to skid.
•  Keep your distance. The distance needed to stop on ice is twice as long as under normal driving circumstances.
• Avoid sudden changes of direction or speed.
• Keep at least a three-car distance from the vehicle directly in front of you.
• Look for patches of road sand and gravel that will provide better traction.
• If you begin to skid, take your foot off the gas, shift into neutral and turn in the direction you want to go.