TAMMY ISOLA / Scroll

Black ice a problem for winter driving

Tenille Gearhart GEA05001@BYUI.EDU scroll staff

Winter is here, and that means black ice on the road.

Black ice looks like a part of the road so many drivers slide on the ice without warning.

“I’m a good driver. I know what to do,” said Jesse Rooney, a senior from Mayville, New York. “Slow down, and don’t let go of the wheel.”

Many students come from places with worse winter driving conditions than Rexburg. For others, this is their first encounter with snow.

“We have a lot of students from different places who have never driven on snow or ice. It can be scary. I am experienced, so I don’t get scared,” said Ranee Jenkins, a junior from Boise.

Black ice can form anytime the weather is below freezing.

“Black ice can accumulate anywhere, but be especially careful after the sun goes down after a relatively warm day,” said Jenkins.

The key is not to panic and to keep control of the car.

“I think that if it is your first time hitting black ice, you’re not thinking about what to do. You just always need to be ready,” said Danny Schofield, a freshman from Issaquah, Wash. “Stop sooner, drive slower, and stay calm. You might want to drive in a parking lot and see how your car handles snow”

Drive safe and make sure to watch for black ice. It might be hard to spot, but be cautious and watch out for other cars.