Comments on: The Dangers of Black Ice http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/12/20/the-dangers-of-black-ice/ Where science collides with life, slams into culture, crashes with politics, and gets totaled. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:28:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Laurens de Jong http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/12/20/the-dangers-of-black-ice/#comment-43573 Laurens de Jong Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:18:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/?p=5571#comment-43573 @William Furr: I have personally witnessed a driver spinning out because of ice and oblivious driving: ice was on a bridge in the middle of a gentle curve. When the car drove onto the ice, it started to go straight; the driver, "oblivously," increased steering input. When the front wheels drove off the ice, the increased angle coupled with rear wheels still on ice caused the car to spin out. That was avoidable — with caution. I've seen this at every level of driving from every day commuters to amateur race car drivers. @William Furr:

I have personally witnessed a driver spinning out because of ice and oblivious driving: ice was on a bridge in the middle of a gentle curve. When the car drove onto the ice, it started to go straight; the driver, “oblivously,” increased steering input. When the front wheels drove off the ice, the increased angle coupled with rear wheels still on ice caused the car to spin out. That was avoidable — with caution.

I’ve seen this at every level of driving from every day commuters to amateur race car drivers.

]]> By: William Furr http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/12/20/the-dangers-of-black-ice/#comment-43537 William Furr Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:38:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/?p=5571#comment-43537 I'm not entirely certain what caution is supposed to accomplish w.r.t. black ice. If I drive over a bridge cautiously, and I hit black ice, I'll spin out of control just as if I were oblivious, wouldn't I? Perhaps I'd spin a bit slower, but not significantly so. I'll still be going highway speeds. Anyway, thanks for the warning and well wishes. :) I’m not entirely certain what caution is supposed to accomplish w.r.t. black ice. If I drive over a bridge cautiously, and I hit black ice, I’ll spin out of control just as if I were oblivious, wouldn’t I? Perhaps I’d spin a bit slower, but not significantly so. I’ll still be going highway speeds.

Anyway, thanks for the warning and well wishes. :)

]]> By: Anonymous Coward http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/12/20/the-dangers-of-black-ice/#comment-43507 Anonymous Coward Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:52:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/?p=5571#comment-43507 I am glad your journey was safe, and hope it continues to be. I feel compelled to point out that black often is associated with negative and perjorative and inaccurate connotations such darkness, secrecy, and mystery; silence and concealment; death (including execution) and bereavement; (with orange) Halloween; end, chaos, and lack; evil, bad luck, and crime. As you note, "Black Ice" is more properly termed "Transparent Ice." I am glad your journey was safe, and hope it continues to be.

I feel compelled to point out that black often is associated with negative and perjorative and inaccurate connotations such darkness, secrecy, and mystery; silence and concealment; death (including execution) and bereavement; (with orange) Halloween; end, chaos, and lack; evil, bad luck, and crime.

As you note, “Black Ice” is more properly termed “Transparent Ice.”

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