Marietta Drivers Need to Prepare for Black Ice

Multiple car accidents were caused by black ice across Cobb County last week. After consulting with law enforcement, county officials decided the dangerous road conditions were too treacherous for drivers. Officials opted to close multiple schools in the area last week.

While bad weather conditions can be the main culprit for motor vehicle accidents, fault may also lie on inexperienced drivers, poor roadway maintenance, or a failure to adequately and quickly clear dangerous snow or ice on public roads.

With more harsh winter storms expected, it’s important for Marietta and Cobb County residents to adequately prepare for driving in bad conditions. In the event of an accident, it’s also wise to contact a local car accident lawyer in the area immediately after an accident.

Tips For Driving on Black Ice

• Know Where to Expect It: The reason black ice is called so, is because it blends in with the pavement making it extremely difficult to detect. The best defense against a surprise run in with black ice is to know where it can be expected on a road. The most dangerous time for black ice is at night or early in the morning. Look for shaded areas on the road that doesn’t get much sunshine. It is also prominent on bridges or overpasses where the asphalt tends to stay more cool.
• Practice Makes Perfect: If at all possible, practice driving on ice in a safe controlled environment. A parking lot without other cars or pedestrians is a good place to practice. This will help drivers understand the feeling of losing control of a vehicle and how to properly adjust and regain control.
• Remain Calm: One of the biggest mistakes a driver can make is overreacting to black ice. It’s best to stay calm, make small movements, and if possible, simply let the car pass over the ice.
• Do Not Hit the Brakes: One of the mistakes many drivers make is hitting the brakes while sliding on ice. The brakes will not help. It’s best to keep speeds low while driving in icy areas so if a driver does hit black ice, they won’t get too out of control.
• Turn Into The Slide: If the driver feels the back end of the vehicle sliding one direction of the other, slightly turn the wheel into the slide to even it out. Ie: if the rear end of the vehicle is sliding to the right, turn the wheel slight to the right to compensate and avoid going into a spin out.
• Do Not Accelerate: Trying to brake or accelerate will be useless and could potentially make the situation worse. If you can potentially shift into a lower gear, this may help.
• Get Off the Road: If an accident does occur and injuries aren’t severe, getting off the road should be the first priority to avoid crashes with other vehicles.