Here in rural Devon gritters are despatched at the drop of a hat if there is the slightest hint of a frost. The idiots in charge don't realise that if there has been no rain and there is no water on the roads gritting is a costly waste of resourses.They don't understand that salt draws moisture from the atmosphere which makes a road surface which would be dry if left ungritted lethal for the riders of two wheeled vehicles. Of secondry importance owners of classic cars are unable to use them until rainfall has washed the offending material off the roads and through the various water courses thus causing extra polution and councils are bleating that they are short of money, astonishing really. The money saved would be put to better use repairing the appalling network of roads in the county.

Frost also draws moisture from tarmac and most other materials and freezes on the surface so it works both ways

The roads do need resurfacing rather than repairing as repairs are not done properly and dont last long!

When dry roads are gritted the salt content draws any moisture from the atmosphere and makes the surface greasy and slippery while any untreated adjacent roads remain bone dry. Check it out next winter

As for resurfacing all the pot-holed roads in Devon you must be joking.