Grit bin

A Grit Bin or salt bin holds a mixture of Salt and grit that can be used to improve a vehicle's traction if the Road has Snow or Ice on it. A Grit Bin improves Winter Road safety on roads which are not gritted by other means.

How does it work ?

If snow or ice is expected or has fallen or formed, locals use a Spade or Shovel to spread the grit onto the road surface. The salt part of the Grit lowers the Melting point of the snow causing it to melt. The gritty part of the grit improves the Friction between a Vehicle's Tyres and the road.

When do they not work ?

Grit bins can be vulnerable to vandalism

A Grit bins lid should be left closed or rain washes all the salt out of the grit and it does not work when you need it ! See Matthew 5:13 ...but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men

In this case if the grit bin has been left open for too long in the rain, then it isn't even good enough to be "trampled by men"

In Britain the local or County council are usually resposnible for installing, refilling and maintaining Grit bins, sometimes there is no fresh grit in the bin when you need it !

a grit bin is an example of Street furniture