applying your smart driving skills Be aware of hidden dangers:  •  Black ice  is caused by moisture freezing on the road surface.  Normally you can’t see it. But if the asphalt looks shiny and  black instead of gray‑white, be suspicious.  •  Shaded areas  may still be icy even after the sun has melted  the ice on the other parts of the road.  •  Bridges and overpasses  tend to form ice on their surfaces  before other road surfaces do.  •  Intersections  ice up quickly because of car exhaust and snow packing. • Check the weather forecast before starting out. Staying  home may be the wisest choice.  • Use tires that are suitable for winter conditions.  • Carry chains and know how to mount them. Snow tires  and/or chains are a legal requirement on many B.C.  roads during the winter.  • Make sure you can see. Scrape snow or frost from the  windows and mirrors, get rid of any ice or snow on the  wipers and clean all the lights before driving.  • Scan further ahead when driving to give yourself a larger  safety margin.  • Plan manoeuvres further ahead so you have more time  to react.  • Slow down.  • Accelerate gently. Sudden starts can send a vehicle into  a skid or cause the wheels to spin.  • Carefully test your braking and steering at a very low  speed. Use this test to decide whether to continue, or  whether to slow down more. • Don’t wait until you spin out on a hill to put on the tire  chains. Think Do Plan ahead Strategies: handling ice and snow warning! When faced with icy or snowy driving conditions:  It can take you 10 times  the normal braking  distance to stop on ice. 122 • Carry sand or a piece of carpet to use if you become  stuck on ice or in the snow. See 