why is the salt that councils spread on the roads so slippery when wet. why is there no hi tech alternative?

Answer 1

It is melting ion the snowy surface and that makes soft snow with bad traction but it does keep it from icing up again.

There are high tech alternatives. There are no cheap alternatives however. Since they spread tons of it in winter the price does count.

Answer 2

Sand and ashes work pretty good, though they aren't high tech!
Salt causes as much trouble, as not having it, - when you look at all the "pros and cons". Salt does work good as long as the ice stays frozen (and if it doesn't "thaw" it will eventually evaporate, -- if it stays that cold it works just great (the auto companies say it is a great safety "help", and since they don't sell salt, -- there's nothing in it for them -- right??) However the salt makes the ice melt at a colder temperature, and then it melts down,a little during the day, but as soon as the temperature goes back down it changes into another ice slick, - and requires more salt!

On wet road, I don't think the salt has much to do with slick (by itself), however oil from the cars, and salt mix and make a smooth surface become slick, - when water comes in contact with it, -- of course oil alone will do pretty much the same thing, --- salt makes the water take longer to evaporate (it increases the water density)!

If everybody would slow down a little, (instead ro running 10mph over the speed limit in the first place), about a 20% decrease in speed (below recommended speed for "dry road"),-would keep most of the cars from "shooting off the road" when they come to corners! And if they weren't passing those "snails" that are driving safely for conditions, they probably wouldn't go in the ditch as much either! And of course there is the "interval" between cars,-- tailgating in icy cnditions ends up with some vehicles having "red glass" on both ends! and some having "white" on neither!

I lived with this for 22 years in Wisconsin, -- Now I live in Texas, where the bottoms of the cars remain solid, engine and exhaust parts come apart without a torch, and only the roof rots out (condensation)-- after about 30 years or so!

Answer 3

The hi tech version is the slippery one!

OK, salt and chemical mix is not terribly hi-tech, but it is a lot worse than pure salt, stays very damp when the rest of the world is dry, (hyrgoscopic) and possibly contributes as much to accidents at higher speeds than ice does at 20mph.

There's no easy solution to the problem, and the trouble with England is the fact that our road tenperatures seldom drop below about -2 at night, and any ice which forms is in the critical temperature range when ice is very slippery.

Actually as any professional driver will know, a frosty road, covered with powder ice at very low temepartures, is not at all bad to drive upon, with plenty of grip available up to a point.
The same is true of very cold snow, which is a bit like driving on sand.

The crap they put on the roads is better than nothing, but it can make the daytime roads both wet and dangerous, and the only way is to keep speeds well down on those employed on a dry road.

Just another litle gem of knowledge for anyone who finds themselves struggling to get up a hill on snow, in the event that we actually get any. The best thing of all are pine needles or tree bark, and if anyone does a lot of remote winter driving, a bag of wood-bark chippings in the boot is just the most wonderful thing to have in such an emergency.

Of course, some of us are old enough to remember 18ft snowdrifts, but for kids to-day, they never get the experience and can't go out when the roads/car-parks are quiet and learn how to deal with it safely.

Answer 4

There are alternatives but its all down to cost. Rock salt is both cheap and effective. These days it is often treated with molasses as this substantially reduces the amounts used which is better both for the environment and reduces the corrosion caused to cars. It also stays on the road for longer before getting washed off.

You might find the road somewhat slippery after treatment but nowhere near as bad as it would be if the salt wasnt there at all. To some extent the process needs the action of car tyres to mix the salt with the frost / snow and to clear the melted brine from the road surface.

Most cars today are fitted with an external temperature indicater, but it doesn't have to be down to zero before it gets slippery, take care if its below 4C. Also remember that it isn't all roads which are salted so make allowances for this. Your local authority will be able to tell you which are the primary routes.

Answer 5

I am sure trials have taken place in Hertfordshire with Urine. It is sprayed on the road instead on the normal spreading of rock salt.

The salt is slippy when wet just because the solid form of rock salt is breaking down in the moisture, making a salt paste.

Answer 6

If there is a dearer alternative the council should pay for it!

We give them good money out of our wages every month, which they squander on useless road calming measures!

Sorry, but i agree it is very slippery when wet and it rots the car very quickly!

Answer 7

I think it's rock salt (if it's reddish) or just normal table salt (if it's white).

I think rock salts are made from a mixtures of unprified salts and sediment so that#s one reason why I think it does not have a technical name.

Answer 8

AGREE WITH YOU. !! Council cut backs is the answer,
not salt, a mixture.. why they think
we idiots !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

It's cheap, works pretty well, and stores great.