Black Ice: The Invisible Road Hazard Published Jan. 19, 2011 By Wendy E. Medley 87th Air Base Wing Safety JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The recent New Jersey winter conditions present an alarming array of invisible problems for motor vehicles. One of these invisible road hazards is black ice. Black ice is an age-old winter phenomenon that has sent many drivers skidding and sliding on what looked like a dry road. Black ice can appear to be a spot of moisture on a road, or may have a slight glisten on black asphalt. Do not be mistaken, this thin ice is very slick and your car can skid rapidly on it. Drive carefully on roads where snow banks have melted throughout the day and exercise caution when driving under bridges and overpasses. If the car starts to skid, do not slam on the brakes, but softly apply pressure and pump, unless your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system. Be cautious and prepare. Look for signs of ice other than on the roadway. If ice is visible on windshield wipers, side-view mirrors, road signs, trees or fences along the highway, it's possible it may be on the road as well. Another good tip for winter driving is to listen to the radio or the news report for updates on the temperature outside. When the sun is beaming and temperatures rise during the day, the snow begins to melt. At night, the temperature drops below freezing, the water that formed from the snow will turn to ice quickly. Living in an area where frost occurs, black ice is always a possibility. Use extreme caution when driving on cold mornings and evenings where there is evidence of frozen moisture on the roadway.