If you live in a warm climate or haven't spent much time driving in winter conditions, the term "black ice" may be new to you. Simply put, it's a thin layer of ice that forms on top of the road as a result of flash freezing (like rain or spilt water over a below-freezing-point stretch of asphalt). Black ice can be especially dangerous to drive on because it is hard to detect by sight and because it creates a slick surface with very little friction for vehicles to brake.