Every winter drivers should take active steps to protecttheir car from road salt. Road salt is necessary for safe transportation when snow andice accumulate on roads and highways and cause dangerousdriving conditions. Salt was first used in the 1930's in snow and ice control tomake roads safe and passable by creating a lower freezingtemperature of the water. It is the most available andcost-effective de-icer. It is easy to store, handle, andapply. Some 15 million tons of de-icing salt is used each year inthe U.S. and about 4-5 million in Canada. Salt keeps snow and ice from bonding to the pavement and toallow snowplows to remove accumulations quickly andefficiently. Studies show that salt use reduces accidents by 88%. Washing your car during wintertime is one of the best thingsyou can do to maintain the value of your car. Mud, salt,rain, sleet, and snow can damage your car's clear finish.Mud and salt caked on the undercarriage promote rust,especially in older vehicles, and can also affect how wellyour car drives. To prevent winter damage, it is recommended that you washyour vehicle every 10 days. Wash your vehicle whenever thetemperature is 40 degrees F. and above. Do it during theday [URL]http://www.dontplayplay.com/html/automobile/20060925/4069.html[/URL]