News
Diesel Spill Survey
The UK Government's National Motorcycle Strategy has identified an "action" to investigate the reporting options for highway defects and develop best practice/supplementary information on clearing road contaminants (including diesel spills).
The National Motorcycle Council is undertaking a national review of how the road is rendered safe following a diesel spill. The Department for Transport, Institute of Highway Engineers and KillSpills are leading on the review.
Diesel deposited on the highway represents a serious danger to all road users but in particular cyclist and motorcyclists. During the period 2000-2005, there were 617 Killed and Seriously Injured casualties as a direct result of diesel spills.
Diesel spills also represent a considerable devaluing of "assets" to the highway authority (a study in Australia has shown that within a short period of time, diesel deposited on the road can reduce the structural rigidity of asphalt increasing road maintenance costs significantly).
This survey is the first stage in developing new national guidelines for the report of highway defects and developing best practice on the treatment of diesel spills. The findings will be presented to the Department for Transport in October 2008 with the aim of issuing national guidelines by 2010.
