How to Practice Caution on Black Ice This Evansville Winter

Many Evansville residents may recall a car wreck that occurred in February of 2015 on University Parkway. A woman hit a patch of black ice, and her car rolled down a hill, finally landing on its side. The lady was trapped in the car for over an hour after the incident before someone driving by saw her car at the bottom of the hill and stopped to help. The woman’s door was jammed shut, but the deputies were eventually able to get her out of the car. Luckily, she was not hurt.

Many people don’t get this lucky. Black ice is a common and unfortunate aspect of winter that we must always be cautious of when driving. The most dangerous part of black ice is how hard it is to spot. Many people never even recognize that the road may be slick until their car has already lost control. While there is no foolproof way to avoid black ice, there are some tips on how to handle any potentially slick roads during the chilly Indiana winter months.

Go Slow

Wrecks often occur because the driver is going way too fast in the icy conditions. If the weather is conducive to freezing roads, you should always take your time while driving, even if that means going below the speed limit. What you must remember is, while many times cars can maneuver through snow with little to no problems, there will likely be ice under this snow, and most cars are not as equipped to drive on ice. Because of this, it will make the car a lot more likely to lose control if you are going fast, and it also makes it much more difficult to come to a stop if need be.

Know How to Use Your Brakes

First, you need to determine whether or not your car is equipped with an antilock braking system (ABS). Most vehicles these days come with an ABS. If you have an ABS, you do not need to pump your brakes. However, you should also never slam your brakes. Rather than pumping or slamming your brakes if you start to lose control on black ice, take your foot off the gas completely. If you feel you are still going too fast and need to slow down, consider applying pressure to your brakes firmly without slamming them. You may hear a crunching sound and feel the brakes pushing back against you, but don’t worry — this is normal.

Watch the Weather

Many cars have the capability of allowing the driver to check the temperature by simply looking at their dashboard. This can be a huge help during the winter. If the weather outside is below freezing, it is safe to assume the road conditions may be icy. No matter what the roads look like, always trust the temperature first and drive with caution.

Don’t Assume Your Car Is Equipped

Many Hoosiers invest in four-wheel drive, studded tires, or snow chains in to ensure their car is equipped for the winter weather. While these may make your commute a little easier, you should never assume that you are safe from black ice and bad road conditions. Still drive carefully and don’t rely too heavily on your car’s various features to keep you safe. Cautious driving is always more effective than any tire accessory.

Help from an Evansville Car Accident Lawyer

If you were in a car accident in Evansville because someone was not driving with caution on black ice, you could be entitled to compensation. Call Hensley Legal Group today for a free consultation or contact us online.