Frost laws are seasonal restrictions on traffic weight limits and speeds on roadways subject to thaw weakening.
In climates that experience below-freezing temperatures, damage to roads from thaw-weakening have led to many US states, Canadian provinces[1] and other jurisdictions to enact laws that restrict vehicle loads during spring months, when road structures are thawing from above in a manner that limits water from escaping the soil structure, thereby weakening the pavement underpinnings.[2] [3] [4] The US state of Michigan, for example, during the months of March, April and May reduce legal axle weights of vehicles by up to 35%. Some areas also require heavy vehicles to travel a maximum of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h), regardless of the posted limit.[5] Some states allow load increases on roads during the freezing season.[6]
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