A Dash of Salt, A Pinch of Rust

It’s no coincidence that the states in the “Rust Belt” are also the highest users of road salt to prevent icy roads.  It is nature’s cruel irony that road salt will make it safer to drive our vehicles in bad weather, but over time its corrosive effect makes our cars not safe to drive.  Salt usage on our roads and highways have increased dramatically over the years, with current usage as much as 15-30 metric tons a year in the United States.

Piles of salt behind a fence.

More salt= more problems.

While practices such as vehicle undercoating can help prevent severe corrosion from spreading, it’s only a treatment, not a cure.  (For more extensive information on these practices, listen to our podcast episode.)  The only sure-fire way to keep our vehicles from corroding would be to keep them in the garage.  And for those of us with classic or antique cars, this is our method of choice.  We have our “wintertime car” that we subject to all those wonderful things the ice, snow, and salt have to offer. 

If you live in one of these areas, make sure you have your vehicle inspected on a regular basis to ensure its fit to drive in the harsh conditions.  I prefer to inspect my own vehicle twice a year, once to make sure it’s road-ready, and once after the winter to see how much damage was done.

Back of a rusty car

Continued salt use is also one of the contributing factors to why we sometimes say – “There are two seasons in my state, winter and road construction.”  It’s estimated that the U.S. alone spends billions of dollars each year to repair damages to roads and bridges caused by the corrosive nature of salt.  This damage is easily visible during the first springtime drive, otherwise known by its recreational name “Pothole-palooza.”  These deteriorated road conditions only cause more wear and tear on our vehicles.

Likely the least apparent negative effect road salt has is the one to the environment.  This is the sinister unseen detriment that we more than likely don’t think about as it isn’t exactly in front of our faces like those nasty potholes.  All those salt rocks, brines, and de-icing chemicals must end up somewhere after they’re dumped so liberally all over our roads, parking lots, and other paved areas.  

Green snow plow on a snowy road.

According to cleanwater.org, only 45-59% of road salt entering waterways will be transported out, leaving the rest to accumulate in the environment.  The most notable contaminant is chloride.  The chloride we use to make our roads safe eventually end up in streams, lakes, rivers and even our very own drinking water.  While the chloride levels in drinking water do not usually reach harmful levels, it is our ecosystems that are much more susceptible.  Excessive salt usage is causing harm to plant life, crustaceans, fish and other aquatic life, not to mention turning our highways into a saltlick for the deer population. And none of us want an increased deer population near the highways.

Thankfully, there are many states and municipalities that are starting to realize our addiction to road salt needs addressing.  Unfortunately, there isn’t much in the way of safer alternatives.  So, most of the focus has been on salt use reduction.  Cities are using “smart salting” programs that train drivers on effective salt distribution and monitor vehicles to prevent over applicating.  

In addition, salt applications are increasingly being used in a “brine” consistency that is usually one part salt and three parts water.  There are also public campaigns being introduced to educate the public on proper salt usage and the importance of knowing the impact salt is having on our environment. 

Peaceful snowy road through woods.

Our current lifestyle demands year-round use of roads. Continuing to learn about the risks of salt on our roads and development of other methods can make the impact on vehicles, roads, the economy, and the environment less detrimental. But wouldn’t it be nice if we could all slow down a bit, stay home, and decrease the need to drive during a blizzard?