The research substantiates the need to create a new automatic electric heating system based on more reliable and accurate sensors to increase traffic safety and reduce the electricity consumption required for heating. The authors analyzed the main advantages and disadvantages of icing sensors of existing automatic electric heating systems. A structural diagram and the interrelation between the stand equipment are given, the sensor tests are described in detail, and the sequence of their realization is provided. Based on the test results, the authors plotted graphs showing the relationship between the temperature of the plate’s working surface and the time elapsed since the heater was turned on. A computer simulation model in MATLAB environment was developed and investigated to evaluate the functioning of the icing sensor in real meteorological conditions and the method of icing detection on the working surface. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of creating an advanced system incorporating sensors to detect ice or snow on the monitored surface. A simulation model for the control system governing the automatic cleaning of turnouts has been proposed and implemented using MATLAB. This model is used to verify the reliability of an innovative method for detecting ice or snow on a monitored surface.