What is Black Ice?

Written by Ashley Surinak
Written by Ashley Surinak

Insurance doesn’t have to be boring. That’s why we hired Ashley Surinak to be our BA insurance writer. Ashley specializes in making mundane subjects hella-entertaining.

Updated

If you've driven in wintry conditions, you've probably experienced black ice. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you've seen it. 

Black ice is an extremely thin layer of ice, often leaving it virtually undetectable to the human eye. You can't see it because it blends in with the pavement making it nearly impossible to see. The problem is that you won't know it's there until you're on it, which can make it incredibly dangerous.  It's called black ice because it looks black as it appears to be the same color as the pavement beneath it.

Black ice forms when the ground is wet and temperatures drop below freezing. This causes the water to freeze on the roadway. Black ice also forms if air moisture condenses and turns into a dew or fog before the temperature drops below freezing. Bridges and overpasses are common areas for black ice because of the cold air under the roadway.

Talk to an independent insurance agent to ensure you have enough auto insurance coverage in case of a black ice-related accident.

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