GRITTERS have been hard at work in recent days across Scotland – helping drivers who still need to travel during the latest Covid restrictions.
And the trucks’ vital efforts has prompted a myth-busting mission by major snow and ice clearing specialists The Gritting Company.
First up, it points out that the winter wagons don’t contain grit but brown rock salt. That’s because grit can leave a sticky residue, with the risk of a slippery road surface, and block drains as it washes away.
Secondly, and contrary to popular belief, salt doesn’t melt ice at any temperature. Instead, it works by lowering the temperature at which water will freeze, preventing ice forming on the roads.
The more concentrated the salt, the lower the freezing point. But salt is less effective below minus 5C, and ice and snow treated with salt melts less quickly at lower temperatures.
The salt doesn’t work immediately, either, as the de-icing effect relies on it being crushed and spread by passing vehicles’ tyres. So if traffic is light, the salted ice on the road will take longer to melt.
Another myth is that salt will quickly melt heavy snowfall on roads. In fact, it works best on busy routes where the white stuff is less than four centimetres deep.
Finally, the firm points out that it is never too cold for snow in the UK, whatever you may think. The temperature needs to plummet beneath minus 40C for that to be the case.
Go to www.gritting.co.uk to find out more about The Gritting Company and its work.
