The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) continues its full support of the Kill Spills campaign.
For 2007 KillSpills held a completely different event on the 26th May at Donington Park race circuit which coincided with Future Publishing’s Bikefest UK event.
In summary, the KillSpills 2007 rally at Donington Park involved the following:
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KillSpills dedicated area with sponsors, supporters, and the manufacturers of diesel spill products;
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The annual KillSpills / BMF Award for “Achievement in reducing diesel spills”
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A world record attempt for the most bikes riding around Donington Park
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Police escorted ride from Number 10 Downing Street TV news stations Fleet Street up the M1 to Donington Race Track
Award
The Highways Agency won the KillSpills / BMF Award for Achievement in Reducing Diesel Spills 2007 in recognition of the work they are undertaking to promote the dangers of diesel spills and motorcycle road safety.
KillSpills said, “Their Heavy Good vehicle video is an inspiration, the anti-diesel spill stickers they have distributed to the road haulage community through various police forces is a welcome and very important strategy. Their Great Rides Great Roads video promotes responsible riding and their work with the likes of Handle It or Lose It and the Shiney Side Up partnership does the same.”
“These reasons alone, make the Highways Agency very worthy winners of our award.”
New KillSpills Diesel Leaflet a Great Success!
200,000 copies of our diesel safety leaflet (funded and supported by the Department of Transport) have been printed and will be distributed across the UK in the next few weeks.
The leaflet was launched successfully at this year’s KS event the 617Ride at BikeFest UK 2007.
Download the leaflet Here
KillSpills Annual Report to Government Here
There were several awards and acknowledgements at the KillSpills event and none better to Harold Ross who distributes high quality materials that have been thoroughly tested, resulting in products that provide the most cost effective way to clean, absorb, treat and dispose of used oil, gas, grease and other petroleum based products.
Harold promotes the use of “Oil Sponge” and has developed a “Spill Station” in MAGs opinion all garage forecourts should have a “Spill Station” which cleans up spillage with a minimum of fuss and is superior in every aspect to any amount of sand thrown down.
View “Oil Sponge” at www.rossenvironmental.co.uk
After this year’s rally and the inclusion of the KillSpill team on the relevant subgroups of the National Motorcycle Council delivering the Government’s National Motorcycling Strategy. The team are now seen as the legitimate voice of riders on diesel spills.
Further information – up-to-date news – information – latest report to government, go to www.killspills.org.uk
The Campaign History
The campaign, “The Road Users Campaign to Kill Diesel Spills – www.killspills.org.uk is being run by a group of riders for the safety of all road users and was started in October 2003.
The main aims of the campaign are to raise public awareness and eventually make a real difference with possible changes to legislation and fuel tank/cap design, together with a programme of educating drivers and riders as to the dangers of diesel.
In September 2004, the Kill Spills Campaign held their first rally in London, with over 750 riders, to deliver a petition to Downing Street containing 10,146 signatures. In 2005 the second rally attracted an estimated 2500 riders showing their support for the KillSpills campaign despite the rain.
On the 9th September 2006, the Kill Spills Campaign held its third demo rally in London, from the Ace Café to Parliament.
The rally was attended by 5,250 riders supporting the biggest KillSpills rally highlighting the lobby to Government on the danger of diesel spills to all road users.
You can download Government Report KillSpills 2006 report Here PDF 33MB in size
MAG’s Director of Public Affairs, Trevor Baird, says, “MAG came on board with the campaign from the very start. The campaign has reinforced our own long-standing position on diesel spillages and has led MAG to produce thousands of diesel awareness stickers which will be placed on lorry diesel tanks and diesel pumps”. However, the group is still meeting resistance from forecourt staff, supermarket chains and oil companies to the use of the stickers.
These stickers are available by contacting MAG Central Office
The spillage of diesel fuel from heavy commercial vehicles is particularly dangerous for riders. This occurs when the vehicle’s fuel tank has been filled or overfilled and/or the tank cap is either faulty, or even missing. When the vehicle enters a bend or roundabout after filling, the resulting surge often results in several litres of fuel being deposited on the road surface.
The result is a very slippery and invisible surface of which the motorcyclist has no warning and it almost inevitably results in the rider and machine parting company, often with serious consequences for the rider.
This is also a potential danger for the upcoming vehicles.
“Diesel is as lethal as black ice in the wet, but takes far longer to disappear.” Quoted from the KillSpills website.
MAG’s Director of Public Affairs, Trevor Baird says, “Despite extensive campaigning on the danger of diesel spills for motorcyclists, the situation doesn’t seem to have been resolved. How hard is it for diesel tanks to be designed so that diesel cannot spill out of them, or caps designed to prevent the problem, it’s not rocket science.”
The Killspills Team have some advice on spotting and dealing with diesel on the road. They advise to look out for diesel spills on roundabouts, junctions and other tight corners that will cause uncapped fuel tanks to slosh over. Any wet patch on a dry road is suspect and long dark lines should be avoided. Diesel is deadly, even on a dry road, and it does not evaporate.
In the wet, look for rainbow colour patches on the road and stay alert for diesel’s distinctive smell, it’s as lethal as black ice in the wet, but takes far longer to disappear. REMEMBER, you can usually smell diesel BEFORE you can see it!
Keep your eyes open and be aware of diesel black spots when you are out riding, such as roundabouts, junctions, bus stops, your favourite corner and roads near petrol stations. Remember, diesel can have you and your bike sliding down the tarmac in seconds, so always look ahead and avoid any suspicious looking patches on the road.
Inform your local council of any spillages, they should get it dealt with immediately.
MAG would also advise riders to search out extra training on advanced riding or assessment courses such as Bikesafe. www.bikesafe.co.uk
MAG also point out that Diesel Spills on the highway are not being mopped up correctly, road authorities are continuing the use of sand and stone chippings which create a further hazard instead of more appropriate materials and tactics.
Ends
Notes
More information on the campaign, online petition and other safety information can be found at www.killspills.org.uk
For further information please contact www.killspills.org.uk
Issued by
Trevor Baird
Director of Public Affairs
The UK’s Leading Riders’ Rights Organisation