To the average driver during the winter season, the number one safety issue is the condition of the roadway. Authorities responsible for road maintenance are sensitive to this fact. Municipalities across Canada are taking pro-active approaches to road-clearing, trying new methods and technologies to keep roads safe for driving and costs under control.

• In Edmonton, road-clearing operations are computer-tracked, snow-clearing operations are based on average freeze-thaw cycles, and a formula combining of sand and salt is used. When necessary, the city takes snow and ice-clearing money from other budgets.
  
• Pavement sensors take regular surface temperature readings in the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. The technology, which costs $250,000 to install, has more than recouped its cost, does not compromise safety and is being considered for province-wide use.
  
• Some municipalities are experimenting with pre-wetting roads with a brine (sodium chloride) wash. The City of Toronto found this technique works well in certain situations and contributes to using less salt overall.

Salt, the principal de-icing chemical, is effective from 0 degrees Celsius to -12 degrees Celsius. A snow storm can cost $250,000 in salt in a four-hour period; alternatives are up to five times more expensive and half as effective. Salt prevents the bonding of ice and snow to pavement surfaces, permitting more efficient and faster removal of snow and ice. It is used as a de-icer because it lowers the freezing point of water. However, at -20 degrees Celsius, it becomes ineffective, and abrasives such as sand must be used.

No matter how clear the roads are, however, there is no substitute for a defensive driver. According to Canada Safety Council president Emile Therien, many drivers lack the skills to deal with poor road conditions and unsafe actions by others. "Extra caution is needed during winter weather, particularly when roads are slippery or have not yet been plowed," he says.

The Canada Safety Council estimates that 85 per cent of all collisions and related injuries relate in some way to driver behaviour, such as impaired driving, speeding, running red lights and non-use (or improper use) of seat belts or child restraints. Nonetheless, road conditions are also important - a fact not lost on those responsible for maintaining them during the winter months.

This article may be downloaded with credit to the Canada Safety Council.