BRITAIN'S ANNUAL DOSE OF SALT

The social, economic and environmental costs are considered of applying 3-4 tonnes of salt to each kilometer of road every winter. Environmental harm includes that resulting from accumulation on the roadside and degradation of soil structure, the solution of toxic heavy metals rendering them for incorporation in the food chain, the promotion of metal corrosion, and the pollution of water resources. The justification of the 2 principal claims used in favor of salting-namely that it improves safety and reduces disruption and delay-are questioned. A study is quoted which showed that salting actually increases the number of accidents. One study found that accidents on icy roads represent 3 percent of the annual total, and 80 percent of these would have occured even in dry weather. The price of disruption and delay is considered and a marginal analysis whereby the efficacy of deicing operations is related to an optimum level of deicing is outlined. Evidence suggests that Britain's level of salting is well above the optimum.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02624079
• Corporate Authors:

  IPC Magazines

  66-69 Great Queens Street
  London WC2E 5DD,   England 
• Authors:
  • Laxen, D
• Publication Date: 1976-12-30

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 699-700
• Serial:
  • NEW SCIENTIST
  • Volume: 72
  • Issue Number: 1032
  • Publisher: REED BUSINESS INFORMATION LTD
  • ISSN: 0262-4079

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Deicing chemicals; Environmental impacts; Traffic crashes
• Subject Areas: Environment; Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00147723
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 16 1977 12:00AM