[News Terms] Black Ice Causing 53-Car Pileup After Heavy Snow and Cold Wave...

What makes winter roads dangerous is not the heavy snowfall itself, but the sudden cold snap that follows the snowfall. This causes melted snow to freeze again, creating thin ice layers on the road, known as 'black ice.' Traffic accidents caused by black ice occur repeatedly every winter. Since accidents often lead to major collisions, extra caution is necessary.

On the 27th, when a record-breaking heavy snowfall hit in November for the first time in 117 years, a 53-vehicle pileup occurred in Wonju. Around 5:50 p.m. that day, on the road toward the Corporate City at the Manjong Intersection in Manjong-ri, Hojeo-myeon, Wonju-si, a passenger car in front stopped, and the vehicles behind it collided one after another, quickly entangling 53 cars. Eleven people were injured in this accident, and three were transported to the hospital.

Yonhap News

A heavy snow warning was issued for the Wonju area that day. Although the snow on the road melted during the day, the melted snow froze again, turning into 'black ice.' Black ice means 'black ice' and refers to a phenomenon where the road surface is covered with a thin layer of ice.

Snow or rain seeps into cracks in the asphalt road and freezes overnight as temperatures drop sharply, mixing with road oil and dust. Because it is thin and transparent, the black asphalt color shows through, making it difficult to distinguish with the naked eye while driving, which can easily lead to accidents. For this reason, black ice is called the 'grim reaper on the road.'

According to an analysis of traffic accident data from 2018 to 2022 by the Korea Road Traffic Authority, a total of 4,609 freezing-related traffic accidents occurred over the past five years, resulting in 107 deaths and 7,728 injuries. Seventy-six percent of freezing-related traffic accidents occurred between December and January, and the fatality rate for freezing road accidents was about 1.5 times higher than for non-freezing roads. In particular, when highways were frozen, the fatality rate was more than three times higher. The fatality rate on frozen highways reached 16.1, which is 3.4 times higher than on non-frozen highways (4.7). This means that in 100 accidents on frozen highways, about 16 people lose their lives. The most dangerous time was between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., with a fatality rate of 8.8, and the highest number of freezing accidents occurred between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. (22.1% of all freezing accidents).

Yonhap News

The Korea Road Traffic Authority advised that to prevent freezing-related traffic accidents, drivers should be especially cautious and drive slowly on bridges, overpasses, tunnels, underpasses, and sharp curves where roads are prone to freezing. They also urged drivers to pay extra attention when passing bridges, tunnels, and underpasses at lower temperatures and to maintain a safe distance and reduce speed during early morning hours when sunlight is absent for extended periods.