Ass Over Teakettle & How To Avoid It

Gwen Berry

In case you missed it, Jake and I were in a rollover accident on November 24. Jake escaped mostly unscathed, I had a few fairly serious injuries, and the pickup was totaled. We wrote about it in an email last week which you can find, along with photos, below.

I will say, the crash must have been spectacular! As near as we can piece together, this is what happened. The pickup hit black ice, started fishtailing and skated toward the shoulder. One or both right-hand tires went off onto the shoulder. Seeing the shoulder ahead narrowing to a slope, I reacted automatically (though erroneously). I steered left too sharply and started to brake. We think a contributing factor was that the braking right front wheel found bare pavement while the rest of the truck was still following through with great momentum. The front right corner became a fulcrum as the back end flew up and over the front. The pickup rolled onto its hood, then came down on the driver’s side roof. It continued over, smashed up the driver’s side of the pickup, came to rest back on its wheels, then finished by rolling backwards into the ditch on the other side of the road. Wow!

Here’s what I’ve been reading up on lately, and I want to share it with you—information on driving when there’s a chance of black ice and what to do if you hit it.

Make sure you have good winter tires on your vehicle. Be aware of road and air temperature, and note  sources of moisture such as rain, melting snow, or condensing mist. Keep an eye on weather and listen to road reports. If weather is bad and could lead to icy roads, stay home.

Know where and when to expect black ice. Black ice forms at about freezing. It’s more likely to form during the night or morning when it’s coldest; in areas that don’t receive much sunshine (such as tree-lined roads); on bridges, overpasses and underpasses; and on roads that are less traveled.

Black ice is often difficult to see, but be on the lookout for a glossy area on an otherwise dull road surface and notice when vehicles ahead are making odd maneuvers indicative of slippery conditions. Expect the possibility of ice when you enter shaded or low lying areas.

It’s a good idea to practice driving on ice. Go to a safe area such as a large, deserted (icy) parking lot. Try driving and braking. Get a feel for your vehicle, how it moves on ice, what works and what doesn’t.

When you’re on the road, slow way down. Drive cautiously and stay aware. Avoid distractions. Don’t tailgate. Keep your windshield cleaned off for good visibility. Never use cruise control in potentially slippery conditions. Avoid quick turns, or sudden accelerating or braking.

If you do hit black ice, remain calm and avoid overreacting. The general rule is to do as little as possible and allow the car to pass over the ice. Black ice is often (although not always) patchy, so hopefully your tires will soon find traction. Do not hit the brakes, and try to keep the steering wheel straight. If you feel the back end of your car sliding left or right, make a very gentle turn of the steering wheel in the same direction. If you try to struggle against it by steering in the opposite direction, you risk skidding or spinning out. Decelerate and shift into a low gear if possible. You have more control at slower speeds.

Some braking will be necessary if skidding a lot: If you have anti-lock braking system (ABS), just put your foot on the brake, apply firm pressure and the car will pump the brakes for you as you skid. If you don’t have ABS, pump the brakes gently as you skid. Steer the car in the direction you want the car to go. 

Remember that even if you have all-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive, or an SUV, once you lose traction the car itself won’t help you. Drive safely and cautiously no matter what your vehicle is. 

Finally, check out this excellent video on driving on icy roads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZQXuWzBC18

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