What is Black Ice?

Kainantu

Black Ice is called Black, because it takes on the color of the underlying pavement. It is very thin, and often gives the impression of having some surface irregularity, and therefore appears to supply some traction for a vehicle. 'What we call black ice is frozen water -- either sleet or rain or from melted snow -- that freezes as a sheet and is not visible as ice,'...'The road looks the same as it always does, which is why it's so hard to detect, especially if you've been driving for awhile.' Then again, ice may not have formed on anything but the road. For example, it may have been a warm day during which the snow melted and then froze as ice after the temperature dropped at night. In other cases there will be ice in shaded areas, such as cuts through hills and along banks, before there will be ice on the open roads. 'If you suspect there could be black ice on the pavement, you may want to test for it by gently wiggling the car a little bit or by applying the brakes lightly to see if there's any change in the feel of the road,' Hetzel explains. Black ice is also one of the winter hazards that four-wheel drive cannot overcome. Another good tip for winter driving is to listen to the radio for reports on the temperature outside. 'When the roads have been wet and the temperature drops below freezing, ice can form quickly,' he adds. http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/releases/120197/blackice.html Jan 05 03, 5:47 AM