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Difficulty: MediumWinter Driving, Snow, and Black Ice

You are driving on a two-lane highway at 50 mph on a clear winter morning when the temperature is 30°F. As you approach a shadowed section under a highway overpass, the road surface appears wet and dark, and your vehicle's tire noise suddenly stops. What should you do first?

  1. A
    Maintain your speed of 50 mph since it is within the posted legal speed limit.
  2. Gradually ease off the accelerator and keep the steering wheel straight without applying the brakes.Answer
  3. C
    Firmly press the brake pedal to quickly reduce speed before entering the shadowed area.
  4. D
    Rapidly turn the steering wheel side-to-side to test tire traction on the surface.

Answer

Gradually ease off the accelerator and keep the steering wheel straight without applying the brakes.
A sudden silence from tire noise on a dark, wet-looking surface at sub-freezing temperatures indicates black ice. The safest response is to ease off the accelerator smoothly and hold the steering wheel straight so the vehicle can decelerate without breaking traction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify black ice indicators
Recognize that a dark, shiny surface in shaded areas combined with freezing temperatures and sudden loss of tire spray or road noise signals black ice.
Early identification prevents panic reactions that lead to loss of control.
2
Adjust control inputs safely
Smoothly remove your foot from the gas pedal while avoiding sudden braking or sharp steering adjustments.
Abrupt braking or steering changes disrupt tire traction on low-friction ice surfaces, resulting in a skid.

Key Concept

Recognizing black ice hazards and executing smooth control adjustments under winter conditions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Winter Driving, Snow, and Black Ice

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