Educate Me Opponauts...

"MoparKetchup" (moparketchup) 10/08/2013 at 21:21 • Filed to: Black Ice

0

20

As some of you may know, I live on a tropical island, so we don't get snow nor black ice. We've had our f !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but that's pretty much it. The rest is just suffocating humid heat, hurricanes and floods floods floods with lovely potholes that never get fixed (there's even a community !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , where people post pictures of potholes !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to denounce the slow governmental action on fixing them... sometimes it speeds up the process on patching them up.)

But I've always been curious about black ice and how would you drive on it. I've lived in the States before, and experienced black ice as a passenger , but not as the driver. So, can you tell me your experiences with it and how have you handled it?

daender > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 21:25

4

Don't brake, don't accelerate, don't jerk the steering wheel; it's almost like hydroplaning accept worse since slowing down won't stop the slippery effect.

Firewrx234 > daender 10/08/2013 at 21:27

0

Exactly this.

Breakfast Burrito: The True Resident Burrito > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 21:29

2

I've heard the best way is to gently pump the brake pedal, but when it comes down to it, you're just at the mercy of the ice. I've had scary moments where I slid into curbs, parked cars, and other lanes while driving no faster than 5 or 10 mph.

Firewrx234 > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 21:31

1

I just wanted to chime in with a story from my father.

While coming home from work in his 1989 Toyota Camry, he was driving on the highway. The roads were pretty much completely cleared at the time and everything had all but disappeared. He was headed home as the sun was setting and with the sun setting, the wet pavement was beginning to become patchy ice.

Much to my father's dismay he hit a patch of black ice and started doing 360's across the entire interstate. He said that he ended up spinning at least 2 entire times around on the interstate. He crossed 3 lanes of traffic and even stared down a semi at one point during his rotations. He ultimately ended up in a ditch without even a scratch on the car.

His comment after it all finished: "Well, it went really slow and it wasn't a lot of fun."

So there you have it.

Milky > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 21:33

1

Black ice sucks but personally I don't come across it too much. Now snow on the other hand, buckets-O-fun. Drifting every time it snows while not wasting tires, is how I get through winter.

MoparKetchup > Milky 10/08/2013 at 21:36

0

Awesome pics... Lovely Crossfire sir.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Milky 10/08/2013 at 21:38

0

You drive a crossfire?

That's cool!

I always love a car that I've never seen in real life.

Nibbles > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 21:38

1

Treat it like a controlled slide. No quick movements. Minimal accelerator or brake. Stay the projected course as much as you can.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 21:38

1

Don't do anything. Just ride it out.

Milky > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 21:58

0

Thanks you sir.

Milky > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. 10/08/2013 at 21:58

0

Ha well thanks. Its not that fast, but certainly entertaining enough for me.

Slave2anMG > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 21:59

2

The best way to deal with black ice is to stay in bed...

Dunnik > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 22:21

1

As others have said, the trick is to steer small (if at all) and avoid using the brakes (and if you do, use a tiny, tiny dab) If you're going straight, it's usually not a problem unless you panic: just follow the same direction of travel and let inertia skate you across the patch.

The real nasty black ice is anywhere near a corner or a turn. Even an AWD car with traction control and winter tires won't necessarily save you. Some say when this happens - since you're probably fucked anyway - the thing to do is to actually attempt to stumble through the turn by making many fast and precise corrections to the wheel and using momentum to slide you through it.

thebigbossyboss > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 23:02

1

Gently point the wheel where you want to go, and pray you go in that direction, before another obstacle comes your way. Don't use your brakes when sliding, it won't help.

This was my parking one day lot last year. Look at that ice!!

thebigbossyboss > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 23:04

0

What island do you live on? Peurto Rico?

rabbitman > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 23:08

1

Black ice usually happens during long deep cold periods and at places cars stop a lot, you won't be stopping there anymore, if it's black ice.
And in the winter stops signs are more like yields, ya kind a just hope you don't meet at the same time. Snow tires make a big big difference too. Every one also forgets how to drive in the snow every year, and can't remember where the lanes were, some 3 lanes become 6 lanes, and some 4 lanes become one lane... You guys should get the 511 app for your island, we have it to report potholes,graffiti and what ever else is pissing you off that day.

MoparKetchup > thebigbossyboss 10/08/2013 at 23:12

0

That's a worrisome sheet of ice!

MoparKetchup > thebigbossyboss 10/08/2013 at 23:13

0

Si.

You've been here before?

thebigbossyboss > MoparKetchup 10/08/2013 at 23:50

0

No, I've never been to Puerto Rico, but I'd love to go!!

MoparKetchup > thebigbossyboss 10/09/2013 at 08:54

0

Great place to visit, specially in winter, when the weather is still 80F... Perfect beach weather.