The idea that road salt improves safety--is a myth

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Overuse of road salt is driven by the idea that salt clears the pavement and makes driving safer.  Basically, the public demands bare pavement, and City officials feel they must deliver, or suffer outrage from the public.

"...Perhaps surprisingly, health care and insurance costs arising from winter accidents increase with the use of road salts. Better winter driving conditions encourage increased traffic speeds with the attendant impact that, when faced with severe weather or where road clearing has been compromised by inclement weather, accidents increase on a stretch of highway."  p. 27

"...A study by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia found that snow and ice-related accidents decreased seven percent (over the 10-year average) in the City of Kamloops following the introduction of new road salts techniques (anti-icing and pre-wetting) while also reducing the City’s snow and ice removal costs." p. 31

Beneath our radar, what's happening is that the Public is transferring responsibility for safe driving to the City.  Once the pavement is mostly clear, drivers resume normal speeds, which aren't really safe in the winter.  Then they blame the City if they have an accident.

What's needed is getting the public to accept responsibility for safety.  This report from Ontario presents a number of ways this can be accomplished--such as requiring snow tires for winter driving, or enforcing lower winter speed limits.