What to do if you start skidding on black ice

We have seen pretty bad weather these past few days affecting road conditions throughout the Central Coast.

With temperatures overnight expected to be very cold, drivers may have to face ivy roads.

Black ice gets its name from being on the dark asphalt it usually forms over. It is hard to see black ice, so it is important to get get a feel for what you should do if you do skid.

“Especially when you’re learning to drive and learning new things and when it’s raining, it’s hard to see, so it makes it harder,” said Makaya, a high school senior who was taking lesson at PC Driving School in Salinas on Tuesday.

“Any kind of sudden movement in water or even on ice can cause you to skid. No matter how good your tires are, if you lose traction, you’re going to lose control of your vehicle,” said Rosalie Asanon, an instructor at PC Driving School.

If you think roads are going to be icy in your area, just go slow. If you do start skidding on ice, stay calm.

“Definitely never take your hands off your steering wheel, and don’t slam the brake. Just take your foot off the brake,” said Asanon.

Try to pay attention to what direction your car is skidding. If the back of your car is going left, turn your steering wheel left to turn into the direction of the skid.

If you are going rightward, turn the steering wheel to the right.

Make sure your windows are clear and headlights are working, so you can see and be seen by other vehicles. Also it is important to check your tires with the penny test.

“If you can see any part in between the edge of the penny and the head (of Lincoln), then you need new tires,” said Asanon. “So you’re going to drop the penny into the tire tread… If it was like this, where you can see this space, you would need new tires.”

Another tip in general for driving in bad weather is to check your windshield wipers to see if they are worn.