Recognizing Hazardous Road Conditions
If there is obvious snow or ice on the ground, you are driving in hazardous conditions. Sometimes, however, knowing if you in danger is less apparent. One example of this is black ice.
Shiny roads are a warning that it is icy or wet and slick. Black ice on the other hand is transparent, which gives it the appearance of a dry roadway. DO NOT BE FOOLED! Look for patches on the road that are slightly darker than the road itself. Also look for patches that appear dull in color. If temperatures are below or near freezing (32°F or 0°C), there is the chance of running into black ice. Temperatures can even be slightly above freezing and you can still find it, so be careful. The average high temperature in Rexburg does not reach above freezing during the months of December and January. (http://weather.msn.com/monthly_averages.aspx?wealocations=wc:USID0215)
Also be observant of your surroundings. If the vehicles in front of you seem to be losing control or sliding off of the road, as in the photo above, BE CAREFUL. This is not a lesson that you want to learn the hard way. If you think you are driving in hazardous conditions, follow the advice found in the section “Driving in Snow and Ice”.
