Diesel spill crack down

Lorry drivers are in the cross-hairs of a new campaign against bike-threatening diesel spills.

Haulage companies across Northamptonshire are being sent 10,000 plastic tank tags, six thousand pairs of rubber gloves and 1000 posters to try to get the message home about the dangers caused to riders by diesel.

Diesel spills were responsible for 618 bike accidents nationally between 2000 and 2002 (the latest three years for which figures are available) and 104 serious injuries to riders. Diesel takes more than three months to break down – remaining on the road surface for dangerously long periods and often reappearing only during rain.

And, added Casualty Reduction Officer PC John Spencer: “We are certain that diesel spillage is the most under-reported cause of loss of control and collisions on motorbikes. Because diesel spills tend to be on roundabouts or bends, bikers tend to hit them at relatively slow speeds and may suffer only minor injuries and be able to get back on their bikes afterwards.”

“We have listened to what bikers have told us in a survey and hope our Spills Kills campaign will help educate thousands of drivers across the county.

“The Spills Kills campaign is primarily aimed at the local haulage industry to try to ensure that diesel tanks are not overfilled and are properly sealed by the driver prior to moving off.”

Northamptonshire Casualty Reduction Partnership’s Spills Kill campaign is supported by a £5000 donation from RAC Legal Services.

Diesel spills on Northamptonshire’s roads should be reported direct to The Street Doctor hotline on 0845 601 1113 (24-hour local rate number). Northamptonshire County Council which operates The Street Doctor in partnership with Atkins aims to respond to a diesel spillage within two hours.

Report diesel spills. Use our Diesel Watch forum.