Road Safety Benefits of Liquid Anti-Icing Strategies and Agents: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Abstract

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) formed a partnership with the city of Kamloops in September 1996 to undertake a 2-year project to test the effectiveness of liquid anti-icers in preventing motor vehicle accidents compared with traditional deicing techniques. ICBC provided $131,000 in financing to Kamloops over the 2 years. Costs included the conversion of city trucks for liquid dispensing, purchasing of liquid magnesium chloride (Freezgard GSL), and updated road weather information systems. G. D. Hamilton and Associates, an engineering and consulting firm in Vancouver, British Columbia, evaluated the safety benefits achieved during the 2 years. The results of the analysis show up to a 74 percent reduction in overall slush, snow, and ice collisions and associated insurance claims. In the previous 3 years, traditional deicing methods were used. The study area for 1996–1997 consisted of 46 km of arterial streets and 38 km of highways within the city of Kamloops. In the second year, 1997–1998, 148 km of arterial and collector roads were studied. However, the anti-icing agent was not applied to the highways in the second year, and the analysis further showed an increase of 84 percent in the overall slush, snow, and ice collisions and resulting claims. The ICBC Research Department evaluated accident claims reported to the Kamloops Claims Office for winter 1997–1998. The results of the analysis show a 6 percent reduction in overall claims on relevant snow days for an estimated minimum savings of $281,868.00 to ICBC for that year. A similar study was completed in 1998–1999 and showed an 8 percent reduction in overall claims on relevant snow days. For the 3-year program, 285 fewer claims were filed, an average of 95 fewer claims per year.