What is Black Ice on Roads? How to Spot & Drive on Black Ice?

What is black ice?

Black ice is “a dangerous type of ice that forms on roads and that is so thin that it cannot be seen by a driver”, according to the Cambridge Dictionary.

It’s clear, not black, and can make a road surface, driveway or footpath extremely slippery and treacherous. Black ice on a road is very difficult for a driver to see.

Where does the name come from?

Black ice is called black ice because, while it is actually transparent (no colour), the surfaces on which it generally forms are black – sealed roads, bitumen, blacktop – so the black surface under the thin layer of clear ice is visible, hence ‘black ice’.

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Where is it found?

Black ice may form between dusk and dawn when surface moisture and dew can freeze.

Black ice in Australia may be found in any areas which experience chilly temperatures (-5.0 to 5.0 degrees Celsius), especially in the winter months.

For example, areas such as the Blue Mountains and locations including Oberon, Lithgow, Bathurst, Cabonne and Orange in NSW. Or Lake Mountain, Dinner Plain, Matlock and Mount Macedon in Victoria.

(image: Pedram Farjam - via: Pexels)

Why is it a problem/dangerous?

Black ice is dangerous because it's a frozen layer of ice offering little to no traction, so it is extremely slippery and once your vehicle is on it, the tyres may lose some or all possible traction, resulting in a partial or complete loss of vehicle control, which may then lead to skidding, sliding, and a single-vehicle accident or a collision with another vehicle.

How can you spot it?

Black ice is difficult to see and may remain in shaded or low-lying areas even during fine days.

If you’re travelling through areas renowned for challenging weather-related driving conditions then drive accordingly: slow down, brake early and carefully, accelerate gently and use minor consistent steering corrections. In short, avoid any sudden changes in speed or direction.

Maintain full driver situational awareness. Look far ahead of your car to see if any other vehicles are behaving erratically, perhaps due to hitting a patch of black ice.

Make sure there’s even more room than usual between your vehicle and the vehicle in front, in order to give you extra time and distance to brake or manoeuvre if you have to.

Look ahead for any smooth, shiny patches on the road surface that are different in appearance to the area surrounding it, especially if that particular section of road is in shadow (i.e. in a tree-lined street, under a bridge or overpass, etc).

Give yourself time to anticipate any potential changes in steering, accelerating or braking before you have to do them.

Maintain a safe legal speed and, as always, drive to the conditions.

(image: emre varışlı - via: Pexels)

What should you do if you encounter it? / How to drive on black ice

If you drive onto black ice, maintain straight, consistent steering, gently ease off the accelerator and avoid any sudden changes in braking or acceleration.

If your vehicle begins to skid on black ice, don’t panic, gently ease off the accelerator, don’t brake or accelerate suddenly, and calmly steer in the direction of the skid to regain control of your vehicle. Don’t make any sudden changes to your vehicle speed or direction and hopefully you’ll be right.

When and where are you most likely to encounter it?

Black ice can form between dusk and dawn when surface moisture and dew can freeze. It is difficult to see and may remain in shaded or low-lying areas even during fine days.

You will most likely encounter black ice on a section of road that is in shadow for a lot of the day (i.e. in a tree-lined road, under a bridge or overpass etc).