Gritting Myths Debunked: The Facts About Road Salt & Winter Safety

The gritting season is in full swing. When snow and ice threaten to cause mayhem, it’s time to send the gritters out to keep the roads, pathways and commercial premises ice-free.

But despite everyone being familiar with grit, there are many things you might not know about it.

We thought it would be interesting to put together this detailed guide to the top gritting myths and facts you need to know.

Read on to find out everything about gritting – you might be surprised!

Top Gritting FAQs

Before we jump into the myths, here are some of the top road gritting facts​ for you:

What is grit made of?

Grit is made of salt, which can be either rock salt or white marine salt, sometimes known as white de-icing salt.

How does gritting actually work?

Grit works in quite a straightforward way. When the grit is spread onto the surface, it mixes with the moisture that is already present. The salt then dissolves into the moisture, and this creates a saline solution.

This saline solution doesn’t freeze at the same temperature as water. Instead, it freezes at a lower temperature, and this is what makes it harder for ice and frost to form where grit has been applied.

With water, when the temperature falls below freezing, the water freezes and turns into slippery ice. But with the saline solution created by gritting, ice will only form at lower temperatures.

How does air temperature affect gritting?

The air temperature is an important factor in overall gritting effectiveness. At just below freezing, grit will help to prevent ice from forming on the surface.

But if the temperature falls below minus 5°C, the grit will be less effective. When the temperature drops to an even colder minus 8°C, gritting stops being effective because now the temperature is cold enough to freeze even the saline solution.

However, it is actually the surface temperature that’s more important in determining whether ice forms or not. The surface temperature can vary based on factors like the amount of sunlight, the number of vehicles travelling on the road and more.

At what temperature do councils grit roads?

If temperatures are set to fall below 0°C, councils will typically send out the gritters to start gritting the roads. The low temperatures mean that ice can start to form, and gritting the surfaces can prevent this.

However, they usually start to apply the grit when the road temperature is about 1°C, and this gives the grit more time to work before the water starts to freeze.

Why can’t I see the grit being sprayed?

You may have seen a gritter pass by on the road without seeming to spread any grit. This may be because the vehicle had not started the treatment, but it could also be because technology has improved.

In the olden days, salt would spray everywhere when a gritter was passing by, and it would often cover nearby cars – much to the annoyance of motorists.

Modern gritting vehicles are more sophisticated. These days, computers are normally used instead to dispense the exact amount of salt required onto the road, so you might not see the grit actually being applied.

Is the council responsible for gritting pavements?

The answer to this is ‘sometimes’. Councils have the responsibility to grit certain pavements, but their priority is to grit the most important paths and roads first. As such, many residential pavements may not be gritted.

Essentially, your local council will determine which pavements to grit depending on factors like how much they are used and the availability of alternative paths.

Should you grit before snow falls?

Gritting during snowfall is not ideal, and gritting before snow starts to fall is the best option. This is because grit is most effective when it mixes with the moisture and forms a saline solution to prevent ice from forming.

This creates a protective layer, so the snow is less likely to compact into ice when it falls.

What conditions does grit not work in?

Grit is less effective in lower temperatures, and it does not prevent freezing at temperatures below 8°C. Additionally, grit needs moisture to work effectively because the salt has to mix with the moisture. As such, applying grit to very dry roads may not be as effective.

Another factor to take into consideration is rainfall. When rainfall is heavy, grit can be prevented from working effectively by diluting the salt or washing the grit away before it works.

Top Gritting Myths

Now let’s dive into some of the most common myths you may have heard about grit:

Myth #1: Gritting Is Easy

This is one of the biggest myths of all, and we can tell you that gritting is hard work!

Gritting professionals need a lot of training to carry out their work effectively, and they are constantly updating their skills to make sure they can carry out their work to a high standard.

Not only that, but think about the conditions on the roads when gritters are out working. They often go out at nighttime in the worst conditions possible, with limited visibility and slippery surfaces. As such, it can be dangerous and they have to be very careful.

They also need a knowledge of GPS tracking and they need to control the amount of salt being released and where it is released on the road, all of which involves having a detailed understanding of the conditions.

Myth #2: Gritting Only Takes Place After It Snows

It may seem like the gritters are sent out following snowfall, and sometimes that’s the case. But gritting crews don’t wait until it snows to act.

Instead, routes are pre-treated before the snow falls. This helps to prevent ice from forming in the first place and it becomes easier to keep the roads clear when the weather gets worse.

Myth #3: Grit Is Applied Randomly

It may look like gritters are driving around randomly on the roads, but they are actually constantly reviewing the weather, planning their routes and staying prepared for bad weather conditions so they can plan ahead.

There’s always a lot of thought that goes into where to grit and how much.

Myth #4: Grit Is Only Applied On Roads

While grit is mainly used on roads, it’s not limited to them. It is also applied to pavements, driveways, car parks, outdoor staircases, and areas where people walk or drive.\

Myth #5: Rain Does Not Affect Grit

Unfortunately, rain can have an impact on grit. If grit is left out and then there is heavy rain, the salt can be diluted, making it less effective. If the rainfall is particularly heavy, the grit could even be washed away.

This is why we usually avoid gritting in the rain. However, if freezing conditions are expected very soon, gritting may still take place.

Myth #6: Gritting Only Happens in Winter

It’s true that most gritting takes place in the cold weather, but it sometimes occurs in the summer as well.

On very hot days, asphalt can become soft, which can lead to slippery conditions on the road. Spreading salt can help to prevent asphalt from melting, making the road safer to drive on.

Myth #7: Councils Are Responsible for Gritting All Roads

One of the more common gritting myths is that the local council has the main responsibility of gritting main roads, but private businesses also need to consider hiring gritting contractors.

Not all roads are covered by the council, and private roads are not their responsibility. If your business has a car park or pathways that may become icy, it’s important to grit these so staff and customers can reach your premises safely and without the risk of liability.

Myth #8: Gritting Is Not Affected by Traffic

Actually, traffic has a major role to play in the effectiveness of gritting. When the salt is spread onto the road, this is just the first step. Next, the traffic on the road moves the salt around, and this is an essential part of the process.

Vehicle tyres help to spread the salt and also work it into the ice, speeding up the melting process. In fact, low traffic levels often mean the road will stay icy for longer.

Myth #9: Roads Only Need Gritting Once

You may have seen a gritting vehicle gritting a road more than once, and this can be necessary when there is heavy snowfall.

The sludge that forms can affect the old grit, and rain can also wash grit away. If the temperature is predicted to fall again, gritters may be called out to grit the road a second time.

Stay Safe in the Winter

Gritting is hugely important during the winter months, helping to keep roads, pavements and car parks safer and helping to reduce the risk of accidents.

We hope this guide to gritting myths and facts has been useful to you. With this information in mind, you should have a better idea about how gritting actually works.
And if you need gritting for your commercial or industrial premises, just let us know. We can also provide grit bins and more to help you remove ice and snow, helping to keep your premises safer during the coldest months of winter.