This is to get an idea of which countries make a habit of salting their roads.
In the UK there are trucks which run up and down all major roads when there is the slightest possibility of ice on the roads. The problem is the sheer volume of the stuff which eventually mixes into a filthy sludge that gets everywhere, on and in your car. My gripe is that this clearly causes more corrosion of the bodywork and the underside of the car.

I have heard that britain is one of the few places that does this, and I know its a better alternative to hiting patches of ice, but I just wondered if this is a problem anywhere else????

Moan over!
:57:

Most of Canada uses salt, but there are some areas where it's banned and they use studded tires instead.

In the USA specifically in Pennsylvania they throw salt down in the winter like its going out of style. They have salt and plow tucks sitting on the side of the highway waiting for the snow to fall then they get to work. Sometimes they do throw salt down before the precipitaion hits. The roads turn white and so does your car and then eventually the cars rust away. You could always tell a northern car from a southern car based on the rust on the bottom uner the door or where the mudflaps are. Your right, It leaves a nice mess but even if its below freezing they are brave enough to keep some of the car washes open so you can clean your car every now and then. In Virginia beach USA 400 miles south they dont get much snow but they do use sand for the most part and sometimes salt, not often though. I've heard that salt wont even work when the temp reaches 17 degrees farenhight or below. I heard of the new fluid stuff and seen them use it here in Anchorage Alaska but not sure how well it works. Im living in Anchorage and so far they plow but there is a good bit of packed snow that turns to ice and at intersections you can little dirt pebbles. In the spring time i hear they use bigger pebbles and then it leads to cracked winshields, in which i swear 70% of the cars here have or will have a cracked windhshield. If i know the roads are slick i slow down, and black ice is the worst, id rather drive on packed snow then a clean road with spotty black ice. Oh yeah we are authorized to use studded tires from October to April, but that doesnt make me inferior but campared to my friend with all seasons im much better off.

Steve

This post has been edited by ssonata78: Feb 8 2006, 12:40 PM

Open window, l know this is a problem, once it is all over get your vehicle underbody steam cleaned, this will wash most of it away

Hey,

Thanks for the advice montego, I think I'll see about that come springtime.

Steve, sand and pebbles on the road sounds like a nightmare man!

The stupid thing is, I'd probably be complaining if the roads weren't gritted and people were trashing their cars because of patches of ice on the road!!

the grass is always greener...

This post has been edited by openwindow: Feb 8 2006, 07:01 PM

Oh yeah forgot to tell you that we up here do have a lot of cars that have broken headlights and stuff like that. Your right the grass is always greener.

Steve

:00000732:
The liquid stuff quoted above is also used in the UK mainly on Airport runways and area's around the airport that must not have salt .

The liquid stuff is actually Urine based (someone said pigs urine to me)
Talk about taking the p---. :whistling:

Regards
Itza :460: :460:

Denmark is a salty dog as well.

Takes pretty good anti-rust stuff to cope (or fully galvanized cars) although new salting methods (doing pre to expected icy roads, applying it in liquid form etc.) has reduced the amount to some 20% of the previous years.

Roadside vegetation is burned by the salt.

More abt. the alternative (Urea) can be found at
http://www.meltsnow.com/

Urea is a fertilizer as well so innovative people works to make a combined product that will melt snow and help nature.

urea is also used to make bombs, so let's just see how far that one goes.

THey salt here in chicago as well, roads get trashed, etc etc.

it's life, move to florida or SoCal in the states if you do not want snow.

It sounds that we have here in Finland about the same conditions as in Alaska!
As soon as it starts freezing in October or so they start salting the roads. We are alowed to use studs from November to February.
Corrosion of cars is a very big problem.

Will that make the roads smell like p***?

Probably !!!!!!!!!

:460: :460: :460:

they salt the roads here in ontario canada like crazy i hate it my poor tibby is white most of the winter but a very good tib to almost stop rust is a very good oil spray i got one done b4 the snow fell and im happy with it my grandpa had a truck 15 years. he oil sprayed it every year and waxed the paint all the time and it still looks like the day he brought it home from the showroom. i dont no if they do them in other parts of the world but if they do id look in to it. a good one costs about $130.00 canadian.

Salt in Luxembourg too and lots of it. Winter tyres too from November to April but not compulsory. Not compulsory in Germany either but if you have an accident and summer tyres the its your fault! - no exceptions!!

^ Thats pretty strict with the tires, but in reality its a good idea. People shouldn't be running summer tires in a blizzard. Some states around here limit how long you can run studded snow tires, but not in New Hampshire. I still hear cars rolling on them (it makes a very distinct noise for those who haven't heard it) and it was like 75 degrees today! I'm pretty sure were done with snow for the season, even though my window scraper is still sliding around behind my seat

Amen to that!!!!!!!!
I have 2 sets of tires & rims for my Sonata

Oregon uses gravel for winter traction...you read right. Gravel. Looks something like this....

(IMG:http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a385/lovemysantafe/Gravel.jpg)

It does wonders for traction believe it or not but when the snow starts to melt, it sits in these pools and gets kicked up, chipping everybody's paint like crazy. Trust me, my Santa Fe has its fair share of battle scars and it's not even two!

Alberta uses gravel too - nasty, nasty stuff ... insurance policies here have a "glass or no glass" clause !!

In Norway they use salt as the where crasy :frozen: