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Road surface conditions that affect traction Black ice: Black ice is caused by moisture freezing on the road surface. Often a driver cannot see it. However, if the asphalt looks shiny and black instead of grey-white, be cautious, and reduce your speed without braking. Shaded areas: Shaded areas may still be icy even after the sun has melted the ice on other parts of the road. Bridges and overpasses: Bridge decks and overpasses tend to form slippery patches more readily than other road surfaces. Use extra caution and try to avoid unnecessary lane or speed changes. Use your low beam headlights when you are following within 150 metres (one-and-one-half city blocks) of another vehicle . Use your low beam headlights when you are within 300 metres of oncoming vehicles.Text extracted from the PDF for reference and may contain layout artefacts. The official PDF is authoritative.
Open official handbook at page 84 ↗Source: Driver's Guide: cars and light trucks, Spring 2026. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Alberta.