(RNN) - With another winter weather blast heading across the U.S., everyone should learn from one Virginia man that black ice is nothing to mess with.
A video of Tim Besecker is making the rounds on Instagram and Facebook of him walking to his car, backpack over his shoulder like any normal work day. As if pushed by a ghost, Besecker then slides down his driveway, almost into the street, tumbles onto the lawn, barely missing his mailbox. He slipped on black ice.
His wife Kelly posted the video after the East Coast was recovering from the “bomb cyclone” with the hashtag #blackiceisreal. He wasn't injured in his impromptu skating exercise.
Black ice is a thin coat of ice that blends in with the road, making it difficult to see, taking on the color of the asphalt or pavement below it.
Black ice is formed when snow or ice melts during the day making the roads or sidewalks wet. When the temperatures drop below freezing at night, those puddles on those wet roads become ice. It often forms where there isn’t a lot of sun hitting the pavement.
If you’re driving on a road and you hit black ice, follow these tips:
- Don’t freak out, keep driving straight. If you turn your wheel, you’re more likely to lose control of your car.
- Do not hit the breaks if possible. Your car will slide and fishtail.
- Take your foot off the gas to slow down and let your car stop on its own – if you have space in front of you. (You shouldn’t be tailgating in the first place, but give yourself space in bad weather.)
- Be careful on bridges and on and off ramps. Roads not traveled as often can be susceptible to black ice.
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