Black ice: The unseen hazard Published March 2, 2010 By Dan Heald 5th Bomb Wing Ground Safety MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Black ice - It is not the name of a bobsled in the Olympics. It is an age-old winter phenomenon that has sent many a driver skidding and sliding down what looked like a dry road. Black ice can appear to be a spot of moisture on a road or may have a slight glisten on black asphalt. However, this thin ice is very slick and your car can skid easily on it. One should drive carefully on roads where snow has melted throughout the day and exercise caution when driving on bridges and overpasses. If the car starts to skid, the driver should remove his foot from the accelerator. This will allow the vehicle to slow down on its own. If brakes are needed, apply them gently and if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes, keep steady pressure on the pedal. However, if the car does not have ABS, gently pump the brake pedal until control of the vehicle has been regained. What can a person do to prepare for black ice? Look for signs of ice other than on the roadway. Some possible signs might be ice or frost on windshield wipers or side-view mirrors, on road signs, trees or fences along the highway. If ice is forming on any of those things, it is possible it may be on the road as well. Often 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 one suspects there could be black ice on the pavement, avoid any erratic movement or heavy breaking as this may result in losing control of the car. 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. Remember, just because it cannot be seen, it doesn't mean it cannot hurt you.