Drivers Told to Be on Lookout for Black Ice in North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA- Amp.charlotteobserver.com writes that several inches of snowfall has been hitting North Carolina, leading to hazards for local drivers. Already, police have been responding to collisions in the state because of drivers traveling too fast on the slick pavement. While many people are concerned about the snowfall and its impact on the roads, experts say that black ice creates an even greater risk.*

Rainfall and snow could result in slick, icy patches in parts of the roadway and on bridges in particular. With temperatures dropping to the mid-twenties, the National Weather Services says that ice will be forming, potentially in places where there was not much snowfall. Officials in the state are telling motorists to stay off the roadways because of the slick surfaces. Black ice, specifically, is a thin layer of ice that is transparent. The ice can look just like the road that it is coating, which means that drivers may fail to notice the ice until they lose control of their cars. This type of ice can form on roads when there are shadows or on bridges and overpasses even when the rest of the road is ice-free. Drivers may be lulled into thinking the roads are clear and safe just to hit a patch of ice and begin to slide. 

If you find yourself traveling on black ice, do not try to brake or swerve. Just ride through it as calmly as possible. The vehicle’s tires will have no traction, and drivers attempting to steer may end up spinning out. While road conditions may create a greater risk of crashes, human error is still a factor in most accidents. When it comes to traveling on ice, go slow, and never follow another driver closely.

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Sources:https://amp.charlotteobserver.com/news/weather-news/article240466906.html and https://www.witn.com/content/news/Governor-Cooper-warns-drivers-to-use-caution-on-roads-568076551.html