Contacts:
Cargill: Bill Brady, 952 742 6608
Jackie Renner, RCC, 612-859-2626
International webinar on new technology to keep ice away, motorists safer coming up
New study on second year performance results for SafeLane ™ Surface Overlay to be released
MINNEAPOLIS—Transportation officials seeking innovations in highway safety are about to get their first look at the latest performance data for a promising new technology called SafeLane ™ Surface Overlay.
Leading ice and snow control authority Wilfrid Nixon will release his analysis on the winter 2006-2007 performance of SafeLane overlay at an international Webinar on Thursday, May 31. Nixon is president of Asset Insight Technologies and a professor of engineering at the University of Iowa.
SafeLane Surface Overlay is a unique anti-icing and anti-skid overlay that helps prevent frost and ice formation before it begins, while sealing roadbeds to prevent their degradation. The patented combination of epoxy and aggregate acts like a rigid sponge, storing anti-icing chemicals inside and automatically releasing them as snow and ice conditions develop.
“SafeLane overlay use has grown to 26 road and bridge test sites in 14 states in just two and a half years,” says Bob Persichetti, general manager, SafeLane Surface Overlay. “That gives us performance data and traffic safety statistics from a wide variety of venues to compare --- rural, urban and suburban; roads, bridge decks, off ramps; North, South, East, West and Central.”
Nixon’s 45-minute presentation will address key performance questions, including:
• Did the overlay cause any problems with winter maintenance such as chemical slickness or slipperiness?
• Was highway infrastructure treated with SafeLane overlay able to maintain driver mobility longer during winter storm events?
• Could roads and bridges treated with SafeLane overlay be returned to full mobility more easily than non-treated sections?
• Did SafeLane overlay help reduce accidents and improve safety for the traveling public at test sites?
Following the presentation, participants will have an opportunity to question Nixon as well as Russ Alger, SafeLane inventor; and Michael Sprinkel, a national expert on epoxy overlays. The Webinar is free and open to any person interested in highway safety and mobility issues. Interested participants can register at www.cargillsafelane.com.
SafeLane overlay is licensed and marketed by Minnesota-based Cargill. This is the second year Cargill has commissioned Nixon to evaluate SafeLane overlay’s winter performance. The 2005-2006 report found no weather-related accidents at any of the nine test sites than installed. In many cases, this contrasted with multiple accidents on nearby untreated stretches of road or bridge deck. Almost all of the treated sites had a history of winter weather accidents. Following the Webinar, a complete copy of Nixon’s 2006-2007 report will be posted at www.cargillsafelane.
Each year, adverse weather conditions contribute to an average of 1.4 million car accidents in this country, resulting in 7,000 deaths, more than 800,000 injuries, and $42 billion in economic loss, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 153,000 employees in 66 countries, the company is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed. For more information, visit http://www.cargill.com.