UK drivers warned to watch out for dangerous ‘summer’ version of black ice on roads

MOTORISTS have been warned about the dangerous road conditions that will occur when it finally rains. After the recent bout of hot weather, “summer ice” is likely to form on roads with the first sign of precipitation. UK drivers have been warned of a common hazard that occurs after bouts of hot dry weather (stock image) Credit: Getty Driving in the rain after dry weather conditions can put motorists at risk of ‘summer ice’ (stock image) Credit: Getty Summer ice typically occurs after continuous hot weather is finally broken by rain showers. Residue from vehicles, including oil and tyre rubber, can often build up on road surfaces during dry weather conditions. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! This can then mix with rainwater to create a slippery film which coats the tarmac. These conditions mimic black ice in winter and are most treacherous right as the rain starts, with even a light drizzle triggering the low-traction. While it is a lesser-known hazard, summer ice is often visible to the naked eye, reports MoneySuperMarket. The rainbow sheen looks similar to an oil spill, however, this can be less obvious on wetter road. While the normal stopping distance between cars on dry roads is two seconds, this is doubled on wet roads, with the time increasing by up to 10 times in icy conditions. Experts have warned that weeks of dry weather have left British drivers at a greater risk when the next rain shower does come. Most read in Motors “Over the past few weeks, drivers will have become used to dry, grippy roads,” Alicia Hempsted, car insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket explained. “But when the rain returns, road surfaces can become just as slippery as ice, and because it might look like an ordinary wet road, people may not adjust their driving to suit the conditions.” Comment now