Black Ice Driving Safety Reminders

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"Black Ice ahead". When Driving on icy roads as you are traveling America-ful on these cold, windy, rainy?(freezing), days and nights be as safe as you possibly can.

Before I retired, the company I worked for would have us attend Defensive Driving classes each winter. We had to go at least once a year and it always corresponded with the wintery driving conditions.

One of the joys of living in a southern, warm climate like Florida is that you don't have to worry too much about "black ice" or snow. However, you do have to worry about the 97 year-old who might be doing 45 MPH in a 65 MPH zone. Nothing against 97 year-olds (I hope to be one some day), but it could be just as dangerous if they become disoriented or don't see you or the next exit they are supposed to take.

I still remember some the things I learned - and you have probably learned the same tips, but this can serve as a reminder. Actually, defensive driving is good to practice in any type of driving condition or any kind of weather. We all want to arrive alive!

A treacherous condition in the winter is the invisible "black ice" - it might be called, in some circles, "sheen ice", "clear ice", etc. The problem is this thin sheet of invisible ice covering the road is dangerous and can be caused by freezing rain or mist and fog in freezing conditions.

It is especially dangerous on bridges and overpasses as the wind blows below and above the structure and can create "black ice" even though it might be a little warmer than freezing before and after the bridge or overpass.

Don't forget that front wheel drive vehicles will give you a little better traction than rear wheel drives because you have the weight of the motor over your front wheels.

Some people will put a couple of 50 pounds or even a couple of 100 pound bags of sand in their trunk or the back of their pick-up truck if they have rear wheel drive vehicles.

SUVs with all wheel drive will slide on ice just like other vehicles. You might get better traction in snow, but ice is another beast. Chains are the best in ice, but you still need to exercise caution.

When you feel the car sliding remove your foot from the gas until you begin to feel the road again and then begin to slowly turn your wheels the way you want the vehicle to proceed. Don't hit the brakes.

Remember how you can get your DVD to play in slo-mo? You might want to think "slo-mo" when driving on icy roads. Any sudden turn or stop or acceleration can cause your vehicle to go out of control or into some hard to control skidding maneuver. Easy acceleration ,stopping and turning.

Some More Reminders:

1. Don't follow too closely - you stop a lot slower in icy conditions than you would in normal conditions or it takes you a lot longer to stop on ice than normal dry driving conditions. In normal dry conditions I am sure you have heard of the "2 second" rule (i.e. you pick out a landmark on the highway and begin to count like "one thousand 1, one thousand 2" and if you pass the landmark by the time you say "2" you are following too closely). Back off.
2. Know what is around you - to the side, to the rear, in front. To do that you check your mirrors regularly - every few seconds. Do a eye ball or head check, too. Don't forget most cars have a blind spot between their rear view mirror and the side view mirrors. You could have that 97 year-old, on icy roads, driving next to you. Be compassionate and try not to cause them any undue stress.
3. Drive at the appropriate speed for the road conditions. Just because the signs says 55 MPH, you don't do 55MPH if driving conditions warrant 25 MPH. Adjust your speed accordingly.
4. To me doing the things above will help leave your self an escape route - i.e. to avoid a dangerous situation leave your self some way to get out of the potentially dangerous situation.

Happy and safe driving