On freezing, wet days, which surfaces are most likely to hide ice?

• A. Intersections
• B. Bridges and overpasses
• C. Painted roadway lines
• D. Sidewalks

Answer: (B)

On freezing, wet days, elevated surfaces exposed to cold air on both sides are the first to form ice and are the trickiest to read. Bridges and overpasses lose heat to the chilly air quickly and don't have ground warmth to melt any water that flows onto them, so water can freeze into a thin, nearly invisible layer called black ice. That combination—fast freezing plus a subtle appearance—makes these surfaces the most likely place ice hides. Painted lines and sidewalks can be slick too, but they’re not as consistently icy as bridges and overpasses, and intersections are usually treated and more textured, which changes how they feel under tires. So the safest takeaway is to slow down and be extra cautious on bridges and overpasses when it’s wet and freezing.