Black Ice: A Dangerous Phenomenon

Credited to dfinf2 from: Black Ice Destruction

One can never be sure that they will be safe every time he or she enters a motor vehicle. Whether it is a beautiful, sunny day or a terrible winter storm, there is always a chance for disaster to strike. There are many precautions one can take, though, in order to attempt to prevent these events from occurring. Seatbelts, speed limits, stop lights, and always being cautious of one's surroundings are just a few of these precautions. Although one may feel as though he or she is fully prepared for any problems that may arise while behind the wheel, there are some issues that are nearly invisible to the naked eye. There is one very dangerous occurrence that many people tend to forget about while venturing out onto the roadways on a cold, frosty day. This hazardous and often deadly phenomenon is formally known as black ice. The term black ice may be referred to in a number of different ways, but there is one common description among all of them: it is destructive. For the most part, black ice can be described as frozen ice, typically present on roadways. A tragic personal experience has led me to believe that black ice is a dangerous and simply uncontrollable happening.

Black ice is common worldwide, but its effect is different depending on the location. It may be used to clarify any type of ice that is formed on roadways, but this is a sweeping generalization. In comparison to other types of roadway ice, black ice is abnormally sleek ("What is Black Ice?"). Black ice may also be referred to as "glaze ice" or "clear ice" because it does not have an apparent color attached to it due to its consistence of air ("What is Black Ice?"). The term black ice was established because the black asphalt and paved roadways can be seen through the ice. Black ice tends to appear wet rather than icy, which makes it dangerously surprising to anyone traveling upon it. Typically, it is created when any form of liquid reaches a roadway that is below freezing temperature ("What is Black Ice?"). It may also occur during a dry period though, when water mixes with oil or dust. This creates a very slick roadway, even somewhat worse than when it is mixed with just water ("What is Black Ice"?). In all instances, it is extremely difficult to stop once one has reached black ice. Consequently, this is the reason why black ice is so horrific and in many cases, fatal.

A terrifying personal experience has allowed me to comprehend the tradgic effects of black ice. It was a frigid Friday morning, and I was driving my sister and myself to school. Although it was a very frosty morning, there was no snow on the ground. We had left our driveway and we were rounding the first corner when I lost control on black ice. It was a corner that dropped into a hill, which made the situation even worse. I slammed on the brakes, but there was no hope for us to stop. We were headed straight for a guard rail on the right side of the road, so I immediately turned the wheel in the opposite direction. My small red Pontiac Sunfire spun around two complete times before landing in a ditch along the left side of the road. Thankfully, there were no cars heading towards us or we could have been seriously injured. We were stuck sideways in a ditch and thought all of the commotion was finally over. Suddenly, another vehicle flew down the hill and missed my car by only a few inches. We decided it would be a lot safer if we exited the vehicle in order to call someone for help. We were standing alongside the road when a truck stopped to see if we were alright. In the midst of our conversation another car flew around the corner, was unable to stop, and smashed right into the truck. My sister and I were completely distraught at this point, but we could hear the fire department coming our way. They had a very difficult time retrieving us because the road was so slick and nearly impossible to walk on. Finally, our parents arrived at the scene and took us to school, even though we were a few minutes late. My car had to be towed to my uncle’s automobile shop in town, where it was fixed. Fortunately, there were only minor damages and a few scratches to the paint. But most importantly, my sister and I were not injured during this dilemma. This experience has taught me to be well aware of my surroundings, which was something I had never put a tremendous amount of thought into before this event. Without this event occuring in my life, I would have never been able to tell other's of the severe effects of black ice.

In most cases, one does not realize the severity of a certain incident until it affects them personally. This is the reason there are so many accidents on our roads today, which is something that could be prevented with just a little more effort from civilians. AAA in Washington describes what drivers should do in winter driving situations in their "How to go on Ice and Snow" article ("How to go on Ice and Snow"). They state that, "To minimize the dangers associated with winter driving, both the vehicle and the driver must be prepared in advance. For the driver this means approaching winter driving with the right frame of mind...("How to go on Ice and Snow")." Although it may not seem necessary to prepare until it becomes a danger to one's life first handedly, black ice must always be accounted for during winter driving. As long as one is aware of the consequences and what to do in order to prevent them, black ice will not be able to control drivers any longer. Black ice is a natural phenomenon that many tend to forget about unless there is snow covering the roads, which allows it to be as deadly as it is. With only a little preparation and care, there is a possibility that black ice could not be classified as a killer on the roads anymore.




Works Cited:

Fondren, Gia. “What is Black Ice?” Even Though it Looks like a Clear Day, the Roads Could be Slippery. 2006. 9 October 2008, <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/19460/what_is_black_ice.html?cat=27>.

"How to go on Ice and Snow." AAA Washington and Northern Idaho, 2008. 1 December 2008, <http://www.aaawa.com/news_safety/traffic_safety/howtogo_ice.asp>.