Ever slid on black ice?
Discussion
I work quite closely with the insurance industry and i'm in regular contact with people who have been involved in accidents.
Last year, it became a running joke that almost everyone we spoke to over Winter had "slid on black ice".
Today i had the first customer tell me that they slid on black ice. I had to try not to laugh. Whilst i appreciate that yes, some people do slide on black ice - there are probably a much larger number of people that drive too close or too fast etc
It's like the "there was diesel on the road" excuse that exists over Summer, or the "slid on wet leaves" in Autumn. I've not managed to find one for Spring yet.
Last year, it became a running joke that almost everyone we spoke to over Winter had "slid on black ice".
Today i had the first customer tell me that they slid on black ice. I had to try not to laugh. Whilst i appreciate that yes, some people do slide on black ice - there are probably a much larger number of people that drive too close or too fast etc
It's like the "there was diesel on the road" excuse that exists over Summer, or the "slid on wet leaves" in Autumn. I've not managed to find one for Spring yet.
Twice, but neither time resulted in damage. Winter back roads that the gritters couldn't get down on both occasions, but I was never going fast enough to be able to crash the cars. The first one was the hairiest as the car just went straight on when it shouldn't; the second one was a bit sideways but correctable.
Agree that most of the time it's inappropriate speed, but there are occasions when the gritters haven't been out. There is absolutely no way to stop the car on black ice, abs or not....
Agree that most of the time it's inappropriate speed, but there are occasions when the gritters haven't been out. There is absolutely no way to stop the car on black ice, abs or not....
I have slid on black ice at a very low speed and it's f***** scary. Thankfully a slow slide over an empty mini roundabout (7am on a sunday) did no harm to anyone or anything, but a lesson was learnt.
One thing to watch out for is areas of the road that have been in the shade, whilst the bits you've been driving on so far have been in the sunshine.
One thing to watch out for is areas of the road that have been in the shade, whilst the bits you've been driving on so far have been in the sunshine.
2something said:
I have slid on black ice at a very low speed and it's f***** scary. Thankfully a slow slide over an empty mini roundabout (7am on a sunday) did no harm to anyone or anything, but a lesson was learnt.
One thing to watch out for is areas of the road that have been in the shade, whilst the bits you've been driving on so far have been in the sunshine.
under trees is the worst imo - still there after everything else has thawed!One thing to watch out for is areas of the road that have been in the shade, whilst the bits you've been driving on so far have been in the sunshine.
Managed to write off my Fiesta back in Jan 2003 after the car started to slide on an open sweeper section of dual carriageway.
When I got out of the car I imediately fell on my arse. The road was like an ice-rink.
So to all those idiots who laugh at the black ice 'excuse', think again next time. It does happen.
When I got out of the car I imediately fell on my arse. The road was like an ice-rink.
So to all those idiots who laugh at the black ice 'excuse', think again next time. It does happen.
over 25 yrs driving only two crashes.. first youthful inexperience and stupidity... second black ice.
Dreadful feeling , 7am early december morning. driving a straight road with a slight camber and the car just started to follow the camber off the road. Steering did nothing at all , pure passenger.
I got some grip off the frosty grass at the side enough to steer me back onto the road only for it to slide straight accross the other side and make a nice car sized hole in the hedge.
Proper black ice is hellish and uncontrolable. Thankfully it is rare.
Dreadful feeling , 7am early december morning. driving a straight road with a slight camber and the car just started to follow the camber off the road. Steering did nothing at all , pure passenger.
I got some grip off the frosty grass at the side enough to steer me back onto the road only for it to slide straight accross the other side and make a nice car sized hole in the hedge.
Proper black ice is hellish and uncontrolable. Thankfully it is rare.
Straight off the road with a glancing swipe of a tree in fact. All at about 15mph on an almost straight road. Fortunately I had good proof of the black ice in the form of the witness (who tried to run over to help me only to go straight over on his arris)Problem is of course that it's now accepted that diesel / ice on the road means "loss of control for other reasons" when they are both perfectly common occurrences and do cause problems.
Yes I have slid on black ice on a few ocassions, and it's not a nice experience but I've never left the road or hit anything as a result!
I also had one strange experience on a journey to work during the summer. I was following a couple of other cars doing about 20MPH on an NSL country lane. Getting impatient I flashed the guy in front who stuck his arm out of the window and pointed down. Confused, I pulled out and started to accelerate..........the car slid all over the show!!! I pulled back over gently and opened my window to be greated by a very strong smell of diesel!! A few hundred yards later we came upon a tractor who had broken down; with a split fuel tank!!
I also had one strange experience on a journey to work during the summer. I was following a couple of other cars doing about 20MPH on an NSL country lane. Getting impatient I flashed the guy in front who stuck his arm out of the window and pointed down. Confused, I pulled out and started to accelerate..........the car slid all over the show!!! I pulled back over gently and opened my window to be greated by a very strong smell of diesel!! A few hundred yards later we came upon a tractor who had broken down; with a split fuel tank!!
Yes.
The guy a few cars infront of me had a big crash in a BMW 3 series, which simply spun out and set all the air-bags.
I tried to stop to help, and simply skidding softly into a grass field. Helped him back to my office and he was on his way once the insurance guys organied pick up.
The guy a few cars infront of me had a big crash in a BMW 3 series, which simply spun out and set all the air-bags.
I tried to stop to help, and simply skidding softly into a grass field. Helped him back to my office and he was on his way once the insurance guys organied pick up.
I've slid on black ice, but only at very low speeds as I was expecting there to be some.
One of the best gadgets that most modern cars come with is the exterior temperature gauge ... If that is below 4 ish on a damp commuting morning, I am very careful.
Praying that the above statement doesn't come back to haunt me at the first sign of REAL weather starting in the coming weeks
One of the best gadgets that most modern cars come with is the exterior temperature gauge ... If that is below 4 ish on a damp commuting morning, I am very careful.
Praying that the above statement doesn't come back to haunt me at the first sign of REAL weather starting in the coming weeks
I have slid on frozen diesel oil 
. Does that count? I was 18 and practicing opposite lock at the time. Lucky to be alive, to be honest.
That's why I think that kids should be taught advanced driving at school, including a bit of karting and controlling various cars on a skid pan. including a single seater and an old 911. Just so they know. Those that take their hands off the wheel and scream/attempt to jump out/shake like leaves should not get a certificate and should not go forward to take a driving test in due course.
Yes it can be dangerous, particularly when large trucks are involved. You can't see it, but you can predict in what conditions and where you are likely to find it, and adjust your driving accordingly.
. Does that count? I was 18 and practicing opposite lock at the time. Lucky to be alive, to be honest.That's why I think that kids should be taught advanced driving at school, including a bit of karting and controlling various cars on a skid pan. including a single seater and an old 911. Just so they know. Those that take their hands off the wheel and scream/attempt to jump out/shake like leaves should not get a certificate and should not go forward to take a driving test in due course.
Yes it can be dangerous, particularly when large trucks are involved. You can't see it, but you can predict in what conditions and where you are likely to find it, and adjust your driving accordingly.
matchmaker said:
Yes, several times. What's your point?
I was a bit baffled too. Sounds a bit like they don't believe anybody slipping on anything ?Mind you, there's so little truly bad weather in recent years (all that MMGW etc
) I can imagine a lot of newbie drivers being completely flummoxed by it when they do see it. Twice; once on a push bike, turning into my street - next thing I know I'm on the floor and sliding gently towards the kerb with only pride injured.
second time was turning into a local street; fortunately I'd had slowed to walking speed to let someone out of the same street (very narrow) and saw them struggle to move off, so it was at walking speed in 1st gear that I gently did a tail out, 4 wheel drift across the side road into the kerb on the far side - thankfully no damage this time either.
second time was turning into a local street; fortunately I'd had slowed to walking speed to let someone out of the same street (very narrow) and saw them struggle to move off, so it was at walking speed in 1st gear that I gently did a tail out, 4 wheel drift across the side road into the kerb on the far side - thankfully no damage this time either.
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