Diesel spills - let's cap them, says Devon CC

Diesel spills on Devon's roads are causing motorcyclists to be involved in potentially fatal skids and crashes, according to a recent survey conducted by Devon County Council's road safety team.

Last year, in response to the high motorcycle injury rate in the area, the council launched its Bringing Bikers Out Of The Blindspot campaign. The first stage of the campaign was to gather views of riders to determine what they felt were the key issues - and diesel spills have been highlighted as a major concern.

Diesel left on the highway by HGVs, buses, coaches, tractors and cars causes a slippery surface that is dangerous to all road users and potentially lethal to motorcyclists. Government statistics show that motorcyclists are twice as likely to suffer injuries from collisions as a result of diesel spills than as a result of snow and ice.

To tackle this, Devon is launching a new campaign, Spiller Killer. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the problem and the potential dangers to road users; to encourage the reporting of diesel spills; and to educate haulage companies, drivers, farmers, bus companies and petrol filling stations about the problems caused by overfilling, poorly fitted fuel caps and badly maintained vehicles - which can all lead to diesel spillage.

As well as this local initiative, the problem of diesel spills on the highway is being tackled at a national level. KillSpills, a national campaigning organisation, has been lobbying the Government to change the legislation on this issue.

"Diesel spills are increasing at an alarming rate and as a result all road users' lives are in unnecessary danger," said KillSpills co-ordinator, Stephen Edwards. "It is difficult to believe that in this advanced world diesel is still so easily allowed to spew over our roads.
The technology exists for anti-spill caps but the cost to fit them to an existing commercial fleet is often considered too expensive."

For further information contact Michael Newcombe, RSO on 01271 388496, or mike.newcombe@devon.gov.uk.