BCAA

32 BCA A .COM WINTER 2016 iStock AUTOMOTIVE toolkit S lipping and sliding is fine on rinks and slopes, but not when you're driving to work on wintery roads, or running for the bus on icy sidewalks. Below, we look at some traditional and emerging remedies for getting a grip. Just remember the other part of the road-traction equation, says BCAA Senior Manager of Fleet Operations Dave Weloy: "We recommend installing four winter tires to provide positive traction, safer braking and improved vehicle handling." Rock salt: Salt melts ice by lowering the freezing point of water and is one of the most commonly used traction materials. About 85,000 tonnes will go down on BC roads this year. However, it promotes rust and is toxic to plants and animals. Salt brine – a mix of salt and water – is increasingly popular because it uses less salt to cover the same area. Sand: Often used in combination with salt on city streets, sand enhances traction, but is messy and has to be cleaned away in spring. Gravel: On highways, salt can sometimes blow away in the wind – leading to the use Gaining Traction BY IAN MacNEILL TIP! Use a mix of water and vinegar to remove road- salt stains from clothing, shoes and other fabrics. MEMBERS SAVE Stuck in the snow? Call BCAA Roadside Assist at 604-293-2222, or *222 on a cell (1-800-222-4357 from other parts of Canada and the US). Members get four free emergency roadside calls per year. Or, make your request online at bcaa.com. THE HOME FRONT A layer of salt, or commercially available anti-icing chemical, can help prevent snow from sticking to sidewalks and driveways. If ice does form, a layer of sand can help. Heat it (in the microwave or oven on low) and it will embed into the surface of the ice, adding even more grip. To get a vehicle unstuck from the snow, keep a folding shovel and a bag of sand in the trunk. Dig around the tires and spread sand; then gently rock the car back and forth. No sand? Old car mats or kitty litter can add grip, too. of gravel or "winter abrasive." The downside? Kicked-up rocks can cause dents and crack windshields. Organic brines: BC communities such as Williams Lake and Merritt are having success with beet juice. It's biodegradable and doesn't promote rust. Different concoctions are being tested in other regions; for instance: cheese brine (Wisconsin), pickle brine (New Jersey), potato juice (Tennessee) and calcium magnesium acetate harvested from roadside grass and kitchen garbage (the Netherlands). ■

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