An Inside Look at Winter Salting and Sanding

Those who live in the northeast are quite familiar with road salt applied to melt ice and improve tire traction on slick roads.  Between feet of snow, ice and slush, it can be challenging to keep your vehicle between the lines during the winter months.  Road plowing is not enough in and of itself.  The addition of road salt certainly helps yet its inherent ability to melt ice gradually diminishes as time progresses.

The Science of Road Salt

Salt melts road ice fairly well up to a certain point.  Salt wears down ice by reducing its freezing temperature down to 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit.  Salt stops water from transforming to ice by intervening as water molecules attempt to align.  Some salt water sprays are comparably effective in stopping the formation of ice as salt has already dissolved in the moisture.  However, if the outdoor temperature is 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit, salt does not melt ice very effectively.  Once the temperature dips down extremely low, salt hits its freezing point.

What Cities do to Combat Salt When It is Uber-cold Outside

If salt becomes ineffective due to low temperatures, cities can respond in a few ways.  Highway workers have found sanding instead of salting helps melt salt and improve tire traction.  Sand crystals improve friction so tires do not slip along wet roads.  Aside from sanding, cities can also apply chemicals to melt ice and snow when it is egregiously cold outside.  The addition of calcium chloride to salt ameliorates the melting process.

The only problem with applying chemicals to the road is the comparably high cost.  Unfortunately, most cities do not budget for ice-melting chemicals.  The logic in not planning for this potential expense is extremely low temperatures with precipitation are becoming increasingly rare.  Some point to the warming of the planet as the cause of our the fairly mild winters in the 2000s.

How Salt and Sand Affect Vehicles

Drivers should be mindful of how salt and sand impact vehicles and tires.  Sand and salt typically make roads safer yet their corrosive quality has the potential to compromise your vehicle’s paint finish, subjecting your vehicle to rust formation.  You have the power to prevent rust by washing your vehicle, bypassing heavy snow and brushing off snow each night.  Focus on prevention and your vehicle will remain aesthetically appealing regardless of how much snow falls.

Maintaining Property Safety

Each city has its own unique way of dealing with slick wintertime roads.  The overarching aim of managing icy surfaces is to prevent slips and falls.  It is up to property owners to clear sidewalks of snow.  If you are injured after a slip and fall on another’s property or if someone accuses you of negligence for failing to clear snow/ice off of your property, you will need the assistance of an experiencd legal practitioner such as Richard Schibell.

Thankfully, there are some ways to improve traction without spending an abundance of money, time or effort.  As an example, combine half a gallon of hot water with a quarter cup of rubbing alcohol and a dash of dish soap.  Apply the mixture to the sidewalk or driveway and watch the snow melt!  It might also be necessary to scrape off any remaining bits of ice.  This approach is somewhat similar to using salt yet rubbing alcohol’s freezing point is much lower at -128 degrees.  You can even add the mixture to a spray bottle and defrost your vehicle’s windows and windshield in a minute or less.

Magnesium chloride is another effective salt substitute.  If the temperatures drop all the way down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit or less, magnesium chloride will be necessary.  The icing on the cake is magnesium chloride is environmentally friendly.  Property owners should also be aware of the fact that salt’s inherent chemical makeup has the potential to burn grass and compromise plants.  Salt even has the potential to harm your furry friend(s).  Though magnesium chloride costs more, its ability to melt ice at uber-low temperatures really does make it ideal for those frigid winter days.

Hopefully these tips can keep you safe and worry free over the winter months. If you or a loved one is unfortunate enough to slip and fall this winter or you think someone has fallen and experienced an injury on your property, contact Richard Schibell today. Our legal team is standing by to make sure you receive the compensation you deserve or to ensure you’re protected from someone who may be seeking damages from you.

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