To be scared of driving on black ice tomorrow

[mrlistersgelfbride]

I'm probably being overdramatic but I'm worrying about black ice on the school run/commute tomorrow. I live in the NW in a hilly area and we had a lot of snow and now it's sleeting. School run was difficult then it took an hour to get to work.
It's all slushy and going to freeze overnight.
Have to do the same tomorrow. I can't do my job from home and my boss has said we have to go in.

I could walk DD to school but it would be very slippy under foot. Then I'm considering getting 2 buses to work so I don't have to drive!
It's silly really as I'm an experienced driving and used to longer distances but I've had a few skids on ice before and as I get older I'm more wary!

Does this country get much black ice? Anyone feel the same or am I worrying too much?
What do you do?!

You’ll get people telling you you’re being unreasonable, but you are not

It’ll most likely be fine. Most roads should be gritted and clear.

I would always say and stand by, if you don’t feel comfortable then just don’t do it. Get the bus!

I don't think you're unreasonable to be worried, but I think you just have to go for it. If you can avoid driving and there's an alternative then take it but you're probably more likely to slip and fall on ungritted pavements than main roads which are gritted.

Take your time, try not to brake hard and keep your distance from car in front.

I don't think you are being overdramatic at all. I wouldn't be risking my car or my life if I felt unsafe driving and would explain this to boss. Can't you take it as a lieu day if s/he won't budge? Also kids can't go to school if it isn't safe surely? Our schools are closed tomorrow due to bad weather warning.

@NoKnit Unfortunately school was open today so think it's very likely to open tomorrow.
I made it into work today and some others didn't, boss wasn't happy and told everyone they have to come in going forward. So a day off will not look good.
It's definitely not worth writing the car off! I'm obviously not alone, I just wonder how others cope with this as it really worries me! 🙈

Most roads are gritted . The worst ones are the small roads so residential streets. If it looks icy, move off in 2nd gear, and take it slowly, brake early etc. OP I just do y best to get in. If I start out and it’s too dangerous then I’ll pull over and bus or whatever. Do t be defeated before you try.

Can you stick to major routes? There has plenty of warning so they should be gritted.

I am in Scotland so we were under the yellow warning this morning and there was advice on the radio that we should work from home if we could. I have a 20 mile drive to work in an area which is fairly high. I got up at 6.30 as I normally would for an office day (we work hybrid) and seeing on the forecast and hearing the WFH if you can advice, I emailed the bosses at 7.15 to say I was going to WFH. The business owner phoned me this afternoon and told me that I had done the sensible thing by staying at home.
In the end the snow didn't come to much but we had heavy rain this afternoon and the forecast is -5 for tonight so I think I will be having another day at home tomorrow as I'm not sure I will be able to safely get the car out because of black ice.

I'm in the SE so it's cold but not spectacularly so. We live in a U road, no gritters (havent seen any at all or salt on pavements) but the two bends on our road are exposed and extensive black ice. It looks like glass. Kids are getting the bus tomorrow, I don't want to drive on it.

Dont be scared about black ice tomorrow, wake up see what the roads are like and make a judgement then. No point pondering over it now they might be fine. If not at 7.30am certainly by 10am im sure majority will have cleared or been gritted.

It does depend on whether they've been adequately gritted, which they may or may not have been.

I'm in the NW (but a flat bit)- it's raining heavily here now, due to get colder overnight, down to -5 by 8am and then not getting above freezing all day. Tbh I'd be surprised if there isn't some black ice tomorrow.

Over shoe grips are very good for walking on icy pavements. Just remember to take them off before you go into shops etc which may have smooth floors as they slip about on smooth floors, ime. I think taking the bus is best OP if wfh is not an option.

I know what you mean .. i‘m in the NW as well. Didn’t take DD to college today, morning rush hour was heavy snow, untreated roads and gridlock.
Gritters have been out tonight, it seems to be raining which I clearing snow away. Temperature (so far) has not dropped as much as forecast.
Stick to the A Roads as much as possible. The only bit iI’m worried about is the last bit before college, which is countryside and hilly.

If you have to go, drive slowly, especially on bends, not so much uphill, and avoid braking. It’s horrible when it’s icy, but worse when it’s unexpected and you hit a patch of black ice you thought was water.

Black ice is worse to drive in than snow and you’re not being unreasonable. Where we live we get a good few hefty snowfalls a year and I’d rather drive in that than when it’s been slushy and frozen as you can’t see black ice on the road until it’s too late. As someone explained to me (who used to work driving gritters) for road salt to work to the max it really needs a flow of traffic to crush it and spread it across the road. Use your gears instead of brakes and if you do hit black ice try to keep the wheels straight. Remember though, it’s better to be late to work taking your time than rushing to get there if you’re driving. If you’re very anxious get the bus to work and a pair of oversized socks over boots are great to stop slips if you’re walking to school, they look a bit ridiculous but I often used put a pair of DH’s over my boots if it was super icy before I bought cramp on things.

YANBU- I am the same and we haven’t had snow yet!

I understand your nerves. I’m happy to cancel social plans when the roads are icy or snowy, but it’s hard when it’s work - you just have to get there so choose the safest way. Usually local Facebook is good for info about the state of local roads. If they are bad, take the bus.

Thanks everyone. I agree the temperature hasn't dropped as expected yet but I think it's more likely to at 4-5am which is enough time for it to get icy before the school run.

Our estate is like a slush rink currently 😬

Re: black ice. Do we get it on motorways here? Or are motorways always gritted?