Instead of Grit and Salt
- Thread starter Crewman47
- Start date
I don't know about that. I was in Saskatoon last winter, and they use no salt there, only sand. The roads seems quite drivable (and certainly, the sidewalks were fine) but there was none of the slush that comes along with salt. And believe me, I'm far too familiar with that—we use way too much salt here in Ottawa.
In the UK, people have been suggesting using cat litter instead of grit. Are there really vast stockpiles of kitty litter hidden in the countryside, and why are they there -- in case there's an invasion of the Atomic Kittens? 
In the UK, people have been suggesting using cat litter instead of grit. Are there really vast stockpiles of kitty litter hidden in the countryside, and why are they there -- in case there's an invasion of the Atomic Kittens?
I think this goes to show how ill prepared this country has become for dealing with things slightly out of the ordinary.
The snow and ice seems to have begun melting today, and above zero air temperature. If this weather had continued for much longer (and it still might), the nation would have had no grit and salt left to deal with it.
There's been a suggestion of importing some from Germany (which may still be happening) , which is ridiculous. We don't need to buy salt from overseas when we have perfectly good salt mines of our own. They're operated on a shoestring, and we build up barely adequate stockpiles.
In the UK, people have been suggesting using cat litter instead of grit. Are there really vast stockpiles of kitty litter hidden in the countryside, and why are they there -- in case there's an invasion of the Atomic Kittens?
That's pretty hilarious.
It would also make your entire country smell.
Salt melts ice, sand does not. If the road is covered with ice and the temps are sub-freezing then no ammount of sand is going to make the road drivable.
Sand can make anything drivable if there's enough of it and you have 4-wheel drive.
Besides, if salt wasn't used in the first place, the range conditions which can produce the really slick kind of ice on the road is drastically reduced. The most slippery ice comes from snow which is melted and then allowed to re-freeze in place, such as can happen with incompetent salt application.
Besides, if salt wasn't used in the first place, the range conditions which can produce the really slick kind of ice on the road is drastically reduced. The most slippery ice comes from snow which is melted and then allowed to re-freeze in place, such as can happen with incompetent salt application.
Not everyone has 4-wheel drive.
4 Wheel Drive should be a required feature of all cars, like seatbelts. It's so massively useful that I can't believe it's optional. There couldn't possibly be a downside, could there? Hell, on most cars these days that do have it, it's not even a 'choice' - the car does it automatically (so it's not something you shift into & out of).
Expense springs to mind. 4-Wheel Drives can cost thousands more than 2-Wheel Drives. My Front Wheel Drive car suits me just fine.
Then let them. There's other features that ARE required that cost a lot, aren't there?
You apparently have never had to drive in snow, then. Good for you.
Front wheel drive does provide fairly good control in snow. The problem is starting from a dead stop----the acceleration moment tends to shift the center of gravity backwards, away from the drive wheels. This can result in some spinning in order to get yourself moving.
^ Yeah, so unless you live in a flat neighborhood, you're stuck.
Then let them. There's other features that ARE required that cost a lot, aren't there?
You apparently have never had to drive in snow, then. Good for you.
I live in Kansas, which God has mistaken for the Canadian Klondike since Christmas Lots of cold, frigid, weather and lots of snow. I've had only one sliding issue with my car on the streets due to road crews inability to clear them but having control of my car (thanks to FWD and ABS) prevented disaster.
I would prefer 4-wheel drive as well, but you asked for downsides so here's a couple: First is that 4-wheel drive reduces fuel economy. Second, is that it further complicates the drive train, adding more parts to break. This reduces the reliability. Of course, there are many pros as well, as you've said. Depending on the location, climate, driving habits, etc. the pros may or may not outweigh the cons.
Another issue that might be considered a downside is that 4-wheel drive can give drivers a false sense of security. You can accelerate faster and turn better in slick conditions, but you can't stop any faster. 4-wheel drive doesn't help braking at all.
You'll accelerate faster and maintain better control if you don't let the wheels spin.
Sand actually does help melt the ice. Not by itself, mind you, but by making the packed snow and ice a darker color. That makes it absorb more energy from the sun and makes it melt faster. It's not nearly as efficient at melting the ice as salt, and it requires sunshine, but it does work.
It's not always the driver's fault, especially in winter conditions. Black Ice is an enemy to even the best drivers.
