Thursday, December 10, 2009

December Ushers in Dangerous Road Conditions Due to Black Ice

Unsafe speed plus unsafe road conditions equals road mishap.

We might see a lot of that equation this December with the heaviest effects of winter coming in.

Just yesterday morning, a man died in a rollover accident in San Jose.

According to reports, the Mustang driven by the man went down an embankment off Almaden Expressway and rolled over several times before resting in a nearby parking lot.

The man was pronounced dead on the scene.

The suspected culprit?

Unsafe speeds and black ice.

CHP has issued a warning earlier about possible icy conditions that day and the driver either did not know the announcement or just plainly ignored it.

Black ice is a dangerous condition where an almost invisible strip of ice forms on the road.

It is called black ice because it takes the color of the road and makes it almost impossible to detect until it’s too late when you are already careening off the road.

This road hazard is usually formed during cold weathers on long strips of roads and bridges.

The safest way to avoid these car accidents is by avoiding driving altogether.

If you really have to travel, avoid bridges and high speed roads like freeways.

You should also drive in a safe speed where you will be able to maneuver your car out of danger in case you hit a black ice.

If you have been injured due to a black ice related accident, consult a car accident attorney to help you in making a personal injury claim.