The de-icing agent described comprises an aqueous solution of at least one alkali metal acetate or at least one alkaline earth metal acetate or a mixture of the two and water as the main components, and 0.01 to 1% by weight of at least one water-soluble triazole compound or at least one water-soluble imidazole compound or a mixture of the two and, if appropriate, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight of at least one alkali metal phosphate as inhibitors. The process described for melting snow and ice on traffic surfaces comprises application of an effective amount of the novel de-icing agent to the ice- and/or snow-covered surfaces to be treated.