Ride to remind PM Blair

More than 1000 of us are expected to take part in this year’s KillSpills protest rally in London – delivering a reminder to PM Tony Blair that he’s failed to act since receiving a 10,000-name petition calling for an end to spills a year ago.

The rally aims to highlight the menace of over-filling of fuel tanks or diesel spillages caused by poorly fitted filler caps – and to take the message right to the Houses of Parliament.

The BMF is backing this year’s rally – which takes place on September 10.

Riders will gather at the Ace Café on London’s North Circular road. They’ll be invited to sign a one-year anniversary card which will be delivered to the Prime Minister at No10 to remind him of the KillSpills action plan (see below).

The rally takes the form of a ride-in (at 1pm) from the Ace Café to the Houses of Parliament. It will be escorted by Met Police motorcyclists.

The BMF (supported by Bennetts) has supplied an award a to be presented on the day by the KillSpills team to the company which has done most to reduce the risk of diesel spills.

THE KILLSPILLS 8 POINT ACTION PLAN:

1. Warning signs should be displayed at service stations informing diesel users of the dangers of overfilling diesel tanks or not refitting the filler cap correctly.

2. The Highway Code should highlight the dangers of spilt diesel and publicise the penalties of spilling diesel on the public highway

3. The THINK! Campaign should be used to get the diesel spill message across: “Think! – Diesel Spills Kill”

4. Lobby for European wide resolution to ensure that future generations of commercial vehicles have anti-spill devices fitted as standard

5. Government Departments and Local Authorities to lead by example, ensuring that their drivers are fully briefed about the dangers of overfilling a diesel tank or not refitting the filler cap correctl

6. Introduce a general Road Safety Hotline that the public can use to report diesel spills and other road safety issue

7. Publish statistics on the reasons prohibition notices are served on commercial vehicles

8. Diesel spills are recognised as a hazard in the Department for Transport Network Management Duty Guidance, but there are no Home Office guidelines to the emergency services relating to treatment of diesel spillage. This should be corrected as part of joined-up government

Details: www.killspills.org.uk