How Does Gritting Roads Work?

How does gritting work? Rock salt lowers the freezing point of moisture on the road surface, stopping ice from forming and causing existing ice or snow to melt. For grit to work most effectively it needs traffic to crush and spread it across the road.

What is the science behind gritting roads?

This water containing dissolved salt is called “brine.” Brine freezes at lower temperatures than regular water, so it remains a liquid at below-freezing temperatures. The brine works its way further into the snow and ice and eventually down to the road surface.

Why do they grit roads?

Why do we grit roads? ... When ice forms on a road it makes the surface slippery, so it's hard for the wheels on a car to grip on to the road surface. Putting grit down stops ice and snow from forming and causes existing ice or snow to melt - so there are no slippery surfaces, and cars can drive on them!