March brings longer days, brighter skies, and a new challenge. Sunlight melts snow and ice by day. Temperatures drop below freezing at night. The freeze-thaw cycle lays down thin black ice, often where the road only looks wet.
We once heard from a lifelong Anchorage resident who watched the vehicle ahead on the Glenn tap its brakes on what appeared to be water. The water had already refrozen. The car fishtailed and struck another driver. Conditions changed faster than anyone could react.
Practical ways to stay safe
Check tire tread and winter rating
Drive for conditions, not the posted limit
Slow more for shaded stretches, bridges, and untreated lots
Treat short trips with the same caution as highway miles
A note about responsibility
Sometimes hazards are preventable. Runoff that refreezes across a driveway or walkway, or operating with unsafe tires, can create risk for others. If a collision or fall occurs, document the surface, lighting, and conditions, then follow What to Do After an Accident.