We only get ice on the road when there is a clear sky. So, if the roads are DRY, we won't get ice on them. However, when the salt is sprayed over the road it has the effect of absorbing any moisture in the air thus making the roads very wet and very slippery. From a motorcyclist point of view, I think the gritting should be more selective. A very light dusting on the straights (but only if the road is already wet), and a bit more liberally on the bends. I've driven/ridden on untreated roads that I couldn't even walk on. Drivers should be more aware of the conditions. My local council uses 80,000 tons of the stuff each winter.