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What Causes Black Ice?
What Causes Black Ice?
The causes, signs and how to tackle black ice.
The causes, signs and how to tackle black ice.
Black ice is a thin, transparent glaze of ice that forms on roads and walkways. It is called "black" not because the ice itself is dark, but because it is so clear that the black pavement underneath shows through, effectively camouflaging it as a harmless wet patch.
Here is a breakdown of what causes it and how to handle it safely.
What Causes Black Ice?
What Causes Black Ice?
Black ice forms when water hits a surface that is at or below freezing (32°F / 0°C). It typically happens in three ways:
Refreezing Melt: Snow or slush melts during the day (due to sunlight or traffic friction) and refreezes into a clear sheet when temperatures drop at night.
Freezing Rain or Fog: Light rain, mist, or fog lands on a super-cooled road surface and freezes instantly upon contact.
Dew & Exhaust: In extreme cold, even morning dew or water vapour from a car exhaust can condense and freeze on the road.
Danger Zones:
Danger Zones:
Bridges and Overpasses: These freeze first because cold air circulates both above and below the elevated surface.
Shaded Spots: Areas shaded by trees or buildings often hold ice long after the rest of the road has melted.
Danger areas are high to the west of Newcastle upon Tyne on the A1 Western Bypass, due to the changes in elevation, frequency of bridges and overpasses, and the volume of road traffic is high due to it being the main route North and South.
How to Tackle Black Ice
How to Tackle Black Ice
1. On Your Property (Walkways & Driveways)
1. On Your Property (Walkways & Driveways)
Traction vs. Melting:
To Melt: Use Rock Salt (Sodium Chloride) for standard freezing temps. For very cold weather (below 15°F / -9°C), use Magnesium Chloride or Calcium Chloride, which work faster and at lower temperatures.
For Traction Only: If it is too cold for salt to work, or if you want to avoid chemicals, spread sand, kitty litter, or sawdust. These won't melt the ice, but they provide the grit needed to walk safely.
Prevention: Shovel snow immediately. If you leave a thin layer of snow, it will melt slightly and then turn into black ice overnight.
Warning: Never try to melt black ice with hot water. It will cool rapidly and refreeze into an even smoother, more dangerous sheet.
2. While Driving
2. While Driving
The "Silent" Warning: If the road looks wet but you don't hear the usual "swish" sound of water from your tires, or if the cars in front of you stop kicking up spray, you are likely driving on ice.
Check the weather forecast and travel news before departing the house and prior to entering your car. For example BBC Radio Newcastle.
Conduct preliminary safety checks on your car before driving. For example, ensure you can see out of all windows in the car, check your external mirrors for clarity, windscreen washers are working correctly, your lights are fully functional, your number plates are clearly visible, your tyres are clear of any obstructions, there are no hazards near or around your car, you have enough fuel to reach a service station.
Do Not Use Cruise Control: You need to feel the traction change instantly; cruise control can cause the engine to accelerate when you lose grip, leading to a spin.
3. If You Hit Black Ice:
3. If You Hit Black Ice:
Lift off the drive pedal immediately.
Do NOT brake. Slamming the brakes will lock your wheels and ensure a loss of control.
Steer into the skid. If your rear wheels slide right, gently turn the steering wheel right.
If in any doubt, don't go out!
If in any doubt, don't go out!
"We don't just grit your car park; we build your legal defence.
"We don't just grit your car park; we build your legal defence.
Every visit generates a time-stamped, GPS-tracked report with surface temperature data, providing you with verifiable evidence to defend against fraudulent accident and slip-and-trip claims."
Every visit generates a time-stamped, GPS-tracked report with surface temperature data, providing you with verifiable evidence to defend against fraudulent accident and slip-and-trip claims."
Client Advisory: Mitigating Winter-Related Commercial Claims in North East England
Client Advisory: Mitigating Winter-Related Commercial Claims in North East England
1. Proactive Winter Risk Strategy: Taking Control of Commercial Claims
1. Proactive Winter Risk Strategy: Taking Control of Commercial Claims
Winter in North East England brings predictable, yet manageable, liability risks. This advisory provides a data-driven framework for proactively mitigating location-specific hazards. Our goal is to serve as a strategic tool, enabling you to understand localised incident patterns, protect staff and customers, and ultimately exert greater control over your insurance premiums. This strategy is founded on a statistical analysis of the regional risk landscape.
2. The Regional Risk Landscape: Data-Verified Incident Patterns (Q4-Q1)
2. The Regional Risk Landscape: Data-Verified Incident Patterns (Q4-Q1)
Effective risk management begins with understanding that winter hazards are not uniform. A slip-and-fall risk in central Newcastle differs from a fleet risk in the rural Durham Dales. The table below presents modelled data—integrating Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and Department for Transport (DfT) statistics—to reveal distinct risk profiles by postcode district.
3. Deep Dive Analysis: Translating Data into Business Impact
3. Deep Dive Analysis: Translating Data into Business Impact
This analysis deconstructs the three most prominent risk patterns, moving beyond raw numbers. Understanding the underlying causes and their direct impact on business operations is crucial for targeted and effective mitigation.
3.1 Risk Profile 1: The 'Urban Ice' Effect (High Frequency/Premium Impact)
3.1 Risk Profile 1: The 'Urban Ice' Effect (High Frequency/Premium Impact)
Applicable Postcodes: High-density city centres (NE1, SR1).
Root Cause: Extremely high public footfall combined with winter conditions. Slush, ice, and water are constantly tracked from pavements into commercial premises (retail units, office receptions), creating persistent slip hazards.
Claim Profile & Business Impact:
Claims are characterised by high frequency rather than high individual value (e.g., a bruised coccyx in the ~£9k–£12k range).
The sheer volume of incidents has a direct and significant impact on Public Liability (PL) insurance premiums for urban core businesses.
3.2 Risk Profile 2: 'Rural Severity' in Fleet Claims (High Value/High Consequence)
3.2 Risk Profile 2: 'Rural Severity' in Fleet Claims (High Value/High Consequence)
Applicable Postcodes: DH1 - DH9 (Durham), DL1 - DL17 (Darlington).
Root Cause: Un-gritted, poorly lit rural lanes and the prevalence of "black ice" pose a severe threat to commercial vehicle drivers.
Claim Profile & Business Impact:
In contrast to the urban trend, the issue is claim severity. Incidents are often far more serious.
Collisions frequently involve vehicles leaving the road entirely, resulting in higher vehicle write-off rates and more significant driver injuries, leading to substantially higher average claim values.
3.3 Risk Profile 3: The 'Loading Bay' Risk (Hidden Employer's Liability Hazard)
3.3 Risk Profile 3: The 'Loading Bay' Risk (Hidden Employer's Liability Hazard)
Applicable Postcodes: TS1 - TS10 (Teesside / Middlesbrough).
Root Cause: Concentrated risk in industrial estates where loading bays and external work areas, exposed to the elements, become hazardous when ice forms.
Claim Profile & Business Impact:
Incidents result in Employer's Liability (EL) claims.
They carry a higher average value (~\£16k) because injuries sustained by manual workers handling goods can lead to long-term incapacitation and significant claims for loss of earnings.
4. The Financial Stakes: Single Incident Claim Value Benchmarks
4. The Financial Stakes: Single Incident Claim Value Benchmarks
To fully appreciate the return on investment from preventative measures, it is essential to understand the potential financial liability of a single winter-related incident. These projected benchmarks for the 2024/25 winter season illustrate the potential costs your business could face:
Minor Slip (Soft Tissue/Sprain): £3,000 - £5,500
Moderate Fall (Fractured Wrist/Ankle): £12,000 - £25,000
Severe Fall (Back/Head Injury on Ice): £45,000+
These figures demonstrate how quickly a single severe incident can impact financial reserves and negatively affect your long-term insurance profile.
5. Actionable Strategic Recommendations
5. Actionable Strategic Recommendations
Based on the preceding analysis, targeted preventative actions are the most cost-effective way to manage the specific winter risks identified in the North East.
6. Conclusion: The Strategic Value of Proactive Winter Management
This advisory confirms that the winter season in North East England presents specific, data-verified risks that vary significantly by location and business type. The evidence is clear: proactive, preventative measures are not simply operational tasks but are strategic investments. Diligent gritting, meticulous floor maintenance, and clear driver guidance are fundamental to ensuring business continuity, protecting the welfare of your staff and customers, and achieving long-term control of your insurance costs. We strongly encourage you to review your current winter preparedness plans in light of this regional analysis.
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