(HealthDay News) — Black ice is an invisible winter danger for drivers, says the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). But you can help protect yourself by knowing how to deal with this seasonal hazard.

The USDA give drivers advice about black ice:

  • It tends to form at night or in the early morning.
  • The ice also forms on roads less traveled on, or roads without much sunshine.
  • Keep an eye out for a glossy sheen on the road. That’s probably black ice.
  • Practice driving on slippery surfaces in an empty parking lot.
  • If you have ABS brakes, know how they work and feel.
  • If you hit black ice, let your car pass over it. Do not hit the brakes, and keep the wheel straight.
  • In bad weather conditions, stay home.
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