Black ice has taken many of us by surprise and most of us don't really know what to do until it's too late. However, no matter how daunting the challenge may seem, there are definitely certain ways that can help you maximize damage control and come out absolutely unscathed. Here are a few tried and tested ways through which you can coast over black ice to safety.
Important Note : Studded tires, snow chains, snow socks and four-wheel drive will not work at all against black ice. So don't get cocky if you have a pair of chains or socks on your tyres. No matter what the equipment is, it's simply impossible to get any traction on black ice. It's really important that you don't underestimate the potential harm it can bring to you and your family.
Stay Calm And Don't Panic
If your car starts sliding on black ice and you sense a loss of traction, just stay composed and try not to panic. It's important to understand that every move you make from the moment you step onto black ice is extremely critical. So it is important that you keep your cool and take decisions with a clear head.
DO NOT Jam The Brakes
Our instinctive reaction when we feel our car is spinning out of control is to jam the brakes. This is exactly what you want to avoid on black ice. Jamming the brakes will only make your car spiral out of control more.
Try and keep the steering wheel straight if your car is not spinning. However, if you do start to spin, rotate the steering wheel in the direction of your spin and try to straighten the car as you slow down and downshift. Don't steer hard in the opposite direction of the spin as it will only make you spiral faster and you'll lose whatever little chance you had of controlling the vehicle.
Slow Down by Decelerating And Use Engine Breaking Instead Of The Brakes
Once you're on black ice, its imperative that you slow down and either try to come to a stop or slowly slide over the ice in a straight line. Anytime you're on black ice and want to slow down, take your foot completely off the gas as soon as you can and simultaneously use engine braking to decelerate. Use the clutch and keep downshifting into lower gears one by one. This is bound to reduce your speed by reducing the power to the wheels without causing the rear wheels to lock.
Give Very Small Steering Inputs If You've Slowed Down And Straightened Your Car
Once you've slowed down and straightened your car, you can either steer straight and slide till the patch of black ice is over or you can give very light steering inputs and gradually move towards the sides if you feel they are free of black ice.
Also Read: What Is Black Ice? How To Spot Black Ice?
Head for Areas Of Traction
It's rare for black ice to be spread over every inch of the road. There are usually spots (snow or patches of mud) on the left or right side of the patch that are free of any black ice. If you do run into black ice, use the method we've mentioned above to slow your car down and head for these spots that will offer you traction. Even if two of your wheels can find some traction in these patches along the sides, it will certainly get a lot easier for you to cross safely.
If You Lose Control, Try To Steer Into Things That Will Cause Minimum Damage.
If you know you've lost complete control and there's no chance of recovery then the best you can do is find a way to limit the damage coming your way. Quickly scan for things like an empty field, snow or a sandy area and try to steer in their direction. Avoid concrete and trees at all costs. It's a lot to expect when you hardly have control over your vehicle, but there's no harm in trying.
If you do slide off and hit something, stay calm. Call for help and slowly try to get out of the car. Try and alert other drivers to not go down the same road.
If There Is A Pile-Up, Evacuate The Car As Soon As You can
Very rarely ice and/or black ice can make extremely hazardous conditions that can cause multi-car accidents on a highway. You will have to evaluate quickly whether you should stay in your car or get out. If you do get out, you might flee further collisions but will have to walk on icy surfaces in freezing temperatures with other cars spinning out of control around you. If you stay in your car on the other hand, you do have some protection but can get sandwiched in the middle of a pile-up. Consider your location, the speed of travel, your warmth, and your physical abilities before taking a decision.
Conclusion
The above list should help you a lot if you follow every instruction to the T. If possible, you can also practice implementing the above steps by driving on ice in a safe surrounding. Find a nice, large, empty parking lot with ice on it. Drive on ice, practice braking on ice and understand how your car feels and handles in these conditions. You can also fiddle around with different electronic systems to see which electronic configuration gives you maximum assistance while driving on ice.
Image Credits : lernerandrowe
