34 | JANUARY 2019
Motoring
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
SAFER DRIVING WHEN
BLACK ICE THREATENS
ROAD SAFETY and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is encouraging motorists to
ensure they – and their vehicles – are ready for the potential challenges of driving in winter.
If I can’t see it, how can I
look out for black ice?
GEM road safety officer Neil
Worth answers questions on driv-
ing safely when black ice may be
a risk:
Pay attention to your car ther-
mometer. Black ice forms when
the road surface temperature falls
to 0 degrees Celsius or below.
But road surface temperature
is usually three to four degrees
lower than air temperature. That’s
why you may get an audible
cold weather warning when your
car thermometer shows 3 or 4
degrees.
Why is it called
‘black’ ice?
Largely because it blends in
very well (too well, in fact) with
the road environment. Black ice is
actually clear and colourless but it
is invisible above the dark tarmac
of the road.
How will I know if I’m
driving on black ice? When and in what
locations is black ice
most likely to form?
Your steering will feel light, you
won’t see tyre tracks on the road
ahead, and there will be next to
no noise from your tyres. The most likely times for the
forming of black ice are around
dawn and in the late evening,
when temperatures are usually at
their lowest. The most common
locations for black ice are shaded
or tree-covered parts of roads,
due to the lack of sunlight. Bridg-
es freeze quickly so be particular-
ly careful.
What should I do if I
realise I’m on black ice?
Stay calm and let your car pass
over the back ice. Gently lift your
foot off the accelerator. Don’t hit
the brakes and be very gentle
with your steering. If you feel
the car is starting to slide, don’t
attempt to overcorrect. Remember
that on ice your car will have no
traction.
www.motoringassist.com/
winter-driving
WHO’S TURN IS IT TO BE THE DESIGNATED DRIVER?
Being the designated driver for an evening out is not everyone’s top
choice, however there are some options which could change your opinion.
This week’s tips, pre-
sented by IAM RoadS-
mart’s head of driving and
riding standards, Richard
Gladman, are for those
who feel they have drawn
the short straw and been
nominated to drive on a
night out.
1. Being the nominated
driver can have its benefits:
some places offer free soft
drinks on a buy one get
one free basis, so check
out this website to see if
any of your local haunts
are included. https://www.
cocacola.co.uk/coca-cola/
designateddriver/
2. If you are the driver,
make sure your friends are
not so tipsy that they are no
longer controllable in your
car. The last thing you need
is a drunk friend giving
you driving advice. Having
someone behaving badly in
a vehicle can be dangerous,
and, if a passenger is prov-
ing too much of a distrac-
tion, you should pull over
and stop as soon as it is safe
to do so.
3. Agree a leaving time
with your friends and ask
them to cover the parking
charges Technically you may
invalidate your insurance if
you take any ‘petrol money.’
4. Very often people
just want their transport
arranged and don’t mind
who drives if it’s not them!
In which case it might be
worth pre-arranging a cab
or minibus – don’t leave it
too late as these things are
best booked and paid for
in advance. Research shows
that women are much better
at this, so gentlemen take at
leaf out of their book and
plan ahead.
5. What about public
transport? For many people
taking a journey on public
transport is the best option,
especially if there are only
one or two of you going in
the same direction. But if
you are in a larger group
then a taxi might even work
out cheaper per person.
6. Remember if you are
the nominated driver it’s
best to have no alcohol
at all, even one drink will
affect the way you drive
without you being aware
of it.
7. Not being the
designated driver on a
night out can also have
ramifications for getting in
the car the morning after.
As a rough guide it takes
the body one hour to rid
itself of one unit of alcohol
(a strong pint of lager or
250ml glass of wine may
contain three units each).
And the clock starts from
when you finish drinking,
not when you start! If you
can remember what you
had you can always get
a rough calculation from
http://morning-after.org.
uk/?page_id=82 but it
should only be used as a
guide.
8. Finally, if you are travel-
ling the last part of the jour-
ney on your own, have an
arrangement with someone
to text them and let them
know you are safely home.
www.iamroadsmart.com