Highway patrol cautions drivers about black ice dangers

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

After this weekend's winter weather and the below freezing temperatures, law enforcement is asking travelers to drive with caution Sunday night into Monday morning as some roads may be covered with black ice.

One driver, Richard Powell, is traveling back home after the holidays and he said he will be driving slow this weekend.

"Anytime we have black ice I just take it really carefully on the highways and stuff because I've had really bad experiences with it before because you can't see it really," Powell said.

Taking it slow is exactly what Corporal Justin Dunn with the Missouri State Highway Patrol recommends when on the roads during these conditions.

"If you don't have to be on the roadways after dark please stay put, if you do have to be out please slow your speeds be prepared for those ever changing road conditions," Dunn said.

Many roads throughout the state will be covered in black ice, which can be extremely dangerous for drivers.

Black ice is a transparent ice that is hard to see and it usually forms when some kind of moisture gets on the ground then refreezes.

Gale Blomenkamp with the Boone County Fire Protection District said many newer cars are equipped with an anti-lock-breaking system, that prevents wheels from locking up when slipping on black ice.

"The adage of pump your breaks really doesn't apply to newer vehicles that have ABS breaks. People should let off the gas, tap their breaks lightly or touch their breaks lightly and let their ABS breaks work," Blomenkamp said.

Blomenkamp also had advice for those who drive cars without that system. 

"If your vehicle is not equipped with ABS then you should pump your breaks lightly to avoid them locking up if you find yourself skidding on black ice," Blomenkamp said.

Officials also recommend checking the MoDOT travel's map to see the road conditions near you.