SNOW AND ICE CONTROL - A CRITICAL LOOK AT ITS CRITICS

SALT IS THE PRINCIPAL TOOL IN A HIGHLY ESSENTIAL OPERATION FINANCED WITH TAX FUNDS TO CONTROL SNOW AND ICE ON HIGHWAYS. MOST COMMONLY VOICED CRITICISMS OF DEICING CHEMICALS ARE DISCUSSED. SALT CAUSES AUTO CORROSION, KILLS TREES, GRASS AND SHRUBS, POLLUTES WATER SUPPLIES AND CAN POLLUTE LOCAL WELLS, PONDS AND STREAMS. MOST POLLUTION PROBLEMS RESULT FROM IMPROPER STORAGE OF DEICING SALTS. CHEMICAL PRODUCERS ARE READY TO ASSIST PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS IN PLANNING PROPER STORAGE FACILITIES. HOWEVER, THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF DEICING SALT USE SHOW BY ACCIDENT STATISTICS, THE GREAT DECREASE IN ACCIDENTS AND SAVING OF LIVES BECAUSE OF ITS USE. CHICAGO ESTIMATES THAT ITS SNOW REMOVAL PROGRAM PREVENTED 15,250 ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD HAVE COST $3.71 MILLION.

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  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Paper sponsored by Committee on Snow and Ice Control. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Dickinson, W E
  • Publication Date: 1968

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Pagination: pp 48-49
  • Monograph Title: Snow and ice control
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00218399
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Sep 16 1994 12:00AM