Ice: Often Unseen, Always Slippery
Even on low elevation highways across Oregon, ice can show up anywhere. Ice on the road prevents tires from gripping, which makes steering difficult, stopping hard and driving unpredictable. When conditions are icy, even having a four-wheel drive vehicle won’t help much — unless you have chains on the tires.
Chains or other traction devices are the best way to travel on ice, if you have to travel. But even with chains, stopping distance is still several times greater than on dry pavement with ordinary tires.
Black ice can fool you
Driving gets even more challenging when black ice forms. Black ice is a thin layer of ice on the roadway and it is particularly hazardous because the road looks wet, not icy. Black ice isn’t really black; it’s so thin and transparent that the darker pavement shows through. It often has a matte appearance rather than the expected gloss.
Black ice is most common at night and very early in the morning, when temperatures are typically their lowest. It is usually thin enough that it melts soon after sunlight hits it, but it can last much longer on shaded areas of roadways and parts of the road where traffic isn’t traveling.
Bridges and overpasses are more prone to black ice. They do not receive as much heat from the ground and lose more heat to the air. They can drop below freezing even when the rest of the roadway doesn’t.
If you need to travel when roads and bridges are icy, remember these tips:
- Turn off cruise control, be alert and drive cautiously to avoid ice on the road ahead.
- Slow down and keep your distance from vehicles in front of you — at least three times as much. Continue to adjust your speed for the conditions. Always give trucks extra room.
- Look for signs of ice off the roadway: on windshield wipers, side mirrors, road signs, trees or fences. If ice has formed on any of these things, it may be on the road.
- Watch shaded corners. These areas may stay icy longer even when the rest of the road looks clear.
- If your vehicle feels like it’s floating, gradually slow down. Don’t slam on your brakes or you may skid out of control. Turn off regenerative braking if you drive an electric vehicle.
- Do not drive through snow drifts: they may cause your vehicle to lose traction.
- Put on chains or other approved traction devices when signs say “Chains required.”