During the winter, black ice often forms on the pavement around your home. It creates hazardous conditions that can result in physical injury and harm. Although the risk of its formation depends on your landscape design, paving materials, and preventative measures, knowing what it entails and how to handle it will help you stay safe. Find out more about this substance below.

What Is Black Ice?

Black ice is a thin layer of transparent frost that can form on roadways, sidewalks, and asphalt surfaces during cold temperatures. It develops due to the freeze-thaw cycle that happens in winter. Warmer weather during the day causes a thin layer of snow to melt, and when temperatures drop below freezing once it gets dark, that thin layer freezes and creates a patch of black ice. This can also occur after a light rain or if there are high moisture levels in the air.

Black ice's transparency makes it difficult, if not impossible, to see. Its name comes from the fact that it blends in with the surface it forms on, often black asphalt or dark pavement.

It often forms during the mornings or evenings, so it doesn't reflect due to the low-light settings, quickly resulting in dangerous conditions for pedestrians and drivers. Sometimes, black ice can also hide under a layer of snow.

What Dangers Does It Pose?

There are several dangers associated with black ice for both pedestrians and drivers. Because it barely reflects any light, it makes it hard to spot while on the road. As such, it increases the risk of a car accident, especially if you don't know how to handle it properly.

Do not suddenly brake if you hit black ice while driving. Instead, take your foot off the gas, grip the steering wheel tight but steady, and let your car slow down. If you don't have enough room to safely do this, lightly tap on the brakes and gently steer into a clearing ahead of you.

When going on walks, wear shoes with good grip and be aware of your footing to prevent slipping on black ice. If you suspect this substance is on your sidewalk or driveway, salt the pavement or walk on grass until temperatures drop.

To incorporate landscape design elements that help minimize the formation of black ice, turn to Sharp Lawn Inc. in Lexington, KY. Serving area residents since 1985, they carry a wide range of materials to complement your home's aesthetics. They also offer Techo-Bloc® pavers to help mitigate the formation of black ice during winter. Visit their website to learn more about their snow removal services, and call (859) 253-6688 to schedule a consultation for landscape design.