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Washington, D.C., Maryland, & Virginia

Staying Safe on Icy Roads

Very few people will find themselves in the midst of a hurricane, tornado, or even flash flood, but almost everyone will have to face snow and ice. Icy road conditions and blowing snow create deadly road conditions. Bad visibility and no traction combine to have catastrophic consequences.

Black Ice

Black ice forms when water freezes without air bubbles. This causes the ice to become transparent and take the color of the material underneath it. This is a major cause of auto accidents during winter driving conditions because it is so difficult to see.

Bridges

Another very dangerous aspect to snow and icy roads are bridges. The signs we see indicating that bridges may be icy because they ice up before the roadway dries are true. Even when the roads are clear, or only slightly wet, the bridges could easily be covered in ice or black ice. Bridges are exposed to air both on the surface and underneath, causing ice to form much more quickly than on ordinary asphalt.

The quick freezing bridges also come with an element of surprise. Drivers may be traveling at top speeds because the roads are clear, maybe even totally dry, so when they hit a bridge they are unprepared and may lose control. Even a light dusting of snow may cause bridges and overpasses to become extremely icy.

Sport Utility Vehicles

Four-wheel drive, antilock brakes, and winter tires will not help a car faced with icy road conditions. While these technological advances save lives every day, when faced with black ice or an icy bridge, they may even exacerbate the problem by giving the driver a false sense of security.

If you do have to drive during dangerous winter conditions, there are a few things you can do to be better prepared including:

• Slow down
• Pay attention. If you can see ice on any materials, such as guardrails or street signs, then it is likely that any bridge you encounter will be icy as well.
• Do not apply your brakes quickly and forcefully. If you find yourself skidding over ice, forcefully applying your brakes will may make it worse.
• Drive into the skid. If your car begins to skid or turn, turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid. Correcting a skid can be a scary and difficult thing to do, but try to remain calm and prepare to have to turn your wheel multiple times in different directions. Always try to resist the urge to press the brakes.

Icy roads and snowy conditions cause numerous accidents every winter. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident caused by icy road conditions, contact the experienced Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia auto accident lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. today

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