Allow me to make one distinction before I launch into this: I like the snow. But I hate the cold. I’d also like to note that my complaints are directed toward the lower peninsula of Michigan; if the U.P. knows how to do one thing well, it’s handle the snow.

So we’ve been getting some decent snowstorms here in Michigan lately and I’m convinced through this year and all of the past ones that the way MDOT handles clearing the roads is wrong, at least if you drive like me.

Typical MDOT response to a snowstorm is to send out the trucks at, say, noon-ish the day after a snowstorm to plow the roads and lay down some salt to melt the ice. And by roads I’m just referring to the main roads. Side streets and suburbs where, you know, people actually live will have to wait until the following week.

I consider myself a good driver–safe and defensive and all that jazz–but when the snow flies, I like to have some fun, too. I have a rear-wheel-drive truck, so a lot of corners are taken in an entertaining power-slide. It makes me happy. (I also pick my locations with care, so I minimize the risk of sliding into anything if things go wrong.)

• Snow provides some traction and rolling resistance. Up to a certain point, having that layer of snow will actually help to slow you down and offer some control, as opposed to the layer of ice beneath it.
• Salt is only effective down to about 15?F. Below that, it won’t melt the ice, or the ice will refreeze. (http://science.howstuffworks.com/question58.htm). A 10% solution is effective to 20?F, while a 20% solution is effective to 2?F. But how do you maintain a consistent solution across miles of roadway?
• Repeated freezing and thawing contributes heavily to degraded roads. Michigan is already fighting an uphill battle, having repeated freezing and thawing over a normal winter. Adding in the potential for salt to thaw/refreeze only exacerbates the problem. Combine all that with the fact that our weight limits for trucking are twice what they should be and it’s no surprise that our roads are crumbling beneath us. (http://www.waynecounty.com/dps_roads/potholes.htm)
• Inconsistent traction is more dangerous than consistent ice. If the roads are obviously slippery, a wise driver will govern their speed to an appropriate value. But if you have a few hundred feet of good traction, leading you to believe you can go 50mph, followed by a sheet of ice, you’re put into a dangerous situation.
• Accelerated degradation of vehicles is both expensive and dangerous. The use of salt (Sodium Chloride) promotes rust at a faster pace than normal, reducing the lifespan of a vehicle and costing consumers money. It can also increase the likelihood of failure. [There are supposed safer alternatives such as Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA), but they can cost upwards of 15x as much as salt and I'm skeptical whether they could provide the volumes needed and whether there may be yet undiscovered environmental impacts. (http://nwc.ctgaia.net/drupal/articles/road%20salt.pdf)]

So I can’t list so many faults without trying to suggest some improvements. Essentially, I think we need to drive smarter and stop trying so hard. We’ll expend a lot of energy trying to outsmart nature. Or we can learn to adapt better.

First, a couple inches of snow is acceptable. With the time that would be spent removing it, try to shore up some of the side streets that would otherwise be neglected and impassible. Second, we should primarily use sand, not salt. The Upper Peninsula already does this, for example. It will improve traction on ice–though it will not melt it–and the life and reliability of your car will be improved. Finally, and most importantly, drive accordingly to compensate!

Posted by nitrogen on Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 at 10:50 am.