How Road Salt Works
Rock salt is used for treating roads, footways and cycletracks and although it has a gritty appearance it is not "grit". The salt works by lowering the freezing point of moisture on the road surface. Before salt can become effective, it needs to be crushed by the traffic and dissolve. It is less effective at temperatures below minus five degrees centigrade (-5°C) and has virtually no effect below -10°C.
The County Council uses wetted salt on its road network. This system uses brine which is sprayed onto dry salt as it is discharged from the vehicles. With this system the salt is a more effective deicing agent as it goes into solution faster and remains on the road surface longer than dry salt because it is not blown around by the wind.
Less wetted salt needs to be used to give the same results which is of benefit to the environment.
The white appearance of a well salted, dry road surface should not be mistaken for frost and it is normally safe for traffic movement. Often, even when dry, residual salt will itself attract moisture and can give the road surface a damp appearance, but the salt should prevent the moisture from freezing.
There is no such thing as an absolutely safe road surface.
The presence of salt will not always guarantee an ice-free surface so concentration and care is always necessary when driving in winter.