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April 2001 |
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Diesel Spills Under Attack
Britain's lorry drivers are the target of a new IAM education campaign aimed at reducing crashes and skids caused when motorcyclists slip on the diesel patches caused by careless refueling.
Thousands of bright new stickers for fuel tanks on trucks will be distributed free of charge to IAM Fleet customers and through trade bodies such as the Road Haulage Association, sponsored by Texaco.
''That's where motorcyclists are most vulnerable - on bends and roundabouts. The spills happen long after the driver has moved off, often some miles down the road''. ''By using IAM's extensive training network, we can reach not just the bikers who suffer the consequences of diesel spills, but also the drivers who perhaps don't realise the dangers of pumping in too much fuel. Plus there are environmental benefits to using the diesel properly as there are potentially damaging chemicals in play,'' said Mr Lunn. ''From the haulier's point of view, wasted fuel is wasted profit.'' ''Over 6000 motorcycle riders and passengers were killed or seriously injured in 1999, according to DETR figures. Deaths were 13 per cent up on the previous year. I would like to think that if we can cut the number of diesel spills by preventing overfilling we can contribute to an improvement in those figures,'' said Mr Lunn. Campaigns about the danger of diesel spills for motorcyclists have been running for some time, notably by MAG and bikers weekly MCN. ''Rather than continuously reminding motorcyclists of the danger, which is 'preaching to the converted', this campaign aims to get to those who actually cause the spills,'' said Mr Lunn. Stickers are available from the IAM Head Office on 0208 994 4403
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The IAM targeting ''sloppy'' lorry drivers was the brainchild of Bryan Lunn, IAM's Chief Examiner, who recalls sitting in a petrol station watching a lorry driver filling up with diesel until the stuff was clearly gushing out. ''I remembered that both my bike crashes were caused not by other drivers or riders, but by diesel patches on roundabouts''.