Who to call in event of bad diesel on the road?

[monkey]

Out working the other day in Welwyn Garden City and there was a long stretch of road including roundabouts with lots of diesel on it. Although it was either side of a petrol station I don't think it was down to them but I did speak to a biker who worked there to warn him and try and get him to call someone.

Who can or should I call in future for things like this? I didn't want to 999 it as I think it would've gone nowhere. Is there a nationwide traffic police number readily available to call?

[glsuk1970]

I'm pretty sure the local council is responsible for the condition of the roads. What they'd do about it though I don't know. If it's a persitent problem with one particular garage to could try asking this lot to put some pressure on them to remind their customers not to overfill and properly secure their filler caps - linky. (http://www.bmf.co.uk/pages/bmf_main_pages.php?main_page_id=704)

[G]

You can use 999 to report diesel spills, despite alot of people being calm about diesel it is classed as a very serious issue, I'm sure the police are supposed to come or arrange for the council to come and sort the issue within an hour.

There was a report in a magazine about it, the magazine reported diesel and waited to see how quick the response was in different areas. Its was defo a 999 job though, your not wasting anyones times, your stopping an artic sliding off the road or a bike falling under the wheels of a car.

[tomjones2]

I know the police do get involved in cleaning up oil spils on major roads so I would imagine they would get invlolved in diesel too if it was serious enough. Might be worth giving them a call anyway, as its in london they might have some camera pics of who has spilt the fuel in the first place.

[Pedrosa]

Normally JESUS CHRIST just after you have hit it.

[jimmy__riddle]

In some areas you can dial 101, and it puts you through to a call centre where they deal with almost anything which is not a 999 call but you want checked out. E.g some drunk smashing up cars, nuisance stuff really, but it seems to be good in that they always put you through to the right people and it seems to get things sorted. I don't think all areas have it, If you call from a landline it will automatically put you through to the right call centre.

[Warthog]

Normally JESUS CHRIST just after you have hit it.

lmao!

[stewie]

Apart from the obvious dangers to bikers and other road users, diesel is also a marine pollutant so you could probably involve the enviroment agency as well.

[clodge]

I think it's the council which is Welyn Harfield Council, Roads & Highways division.

Council Offices
The Campus,
Welwyn Garden City,
Herts AL8 6AE.
General Enquiries:
Tel: 01707 357000

[northwind]

Since around here it's always from the bus park and ride, I phone them, they're faster than the council- they've got their own cleanup people. You can even tell what bus it is by following the rainbow :rolleyes:

(reminds me of a pointless story... Years back, just after I did my CBT, my mate Brendan binned his Vespa on a big diesel spill. He phoned the council, but since he had a tin of undercoat spray paint in his bag he also sprayed "DIESEL!" on the road just before the corner it was on. The next day he rode by to find the diesel spill still there and the council burning off the warning)

[wheelnut]

I reckon 999 is the right number. Or call the local council and tell them you called 999 already.

I think diesel on the road makes as big a mess of a Pan European with stripes as much as an SV650.

Coppers are not exempt from falling off.

[Jdubya]

I reckon 999 is the right number. Or call the local council and tell them you called 999 already.

I think diesel on the road makes as big a mess of a Pan European with stripes as much as an SV650.

Coppers are not exempt from falling off.


It does of most bikes TBH

[Tomtoms]

as its in london they might have some camera pics of who has spilt the fuel in the first place.

Welwyn isnt quite in london!

[Daimo]

Good post.

The road i use every day has a huge dark diesel line EVERY single day roudn the middle/outside. All the trucks just seem to be ignoring the current fuel prices.

When it come to wet days, corning is somewhat slow. Even in the dry i have to stick as far to the inside as possible.

I will happily complain every single day untill someone starts coming down on the lorry companies, so if anyone knows the best number to call (A228 - Rochester to M20) around this area i'd be gratefull :)

[breakz187]

How bad is it when you go over diesel.

I saw a massive amount on a roundabout coming off the A23 last night. Luckily my exit was just before the mess, but how are you meant to handle diesel? Are you definitely going down once your on it?

Im a noob and im sh|t scared of the rainbow when it gets wet out there.

[Luckypants]

It is the County Council or Unitary Authority that have responsibility. I have called my council (Denbighshire) about diesel before and they sorted it out in an hour.

[Jdubya]

How bad is it when you go over diesel.

I saw a massive amount on a roundabout coming off the A23 last night. Luckily my exit was just before the mess, but how are you meant to handle diesel? Are you definitely going down once your on it?

Im a noob and im sh|t scared of the rainbow when it gets wet out there.


It is always slippery! But I have gone over small patches in a straight line and not felt anything different. The problem is always at roundabouts and bends...same as wet manhole covers. Very dangerous...even for cars. Be careful out there.

As for the A228...that would be KCC or medway council depending on where along the A228 it is.

[Baph]

http://coffeejedi.darkimage.net/old_thread.jpg

[Grinch]

BMF do a 'Report a Road (http://www.bmf.co.uk/pages/report_a_road_home.php)' site with all the links to the councils and such you need to contact from diesel spills to grit and other things on the road.

[Baph]

BMF do a 'Report a Road (http://www.bmf.co.uk/pages/report_a_road_home.php)' site with all the links to the councils and such you need to contact from diesel spills to grit and other things on the road.
That site says:
Note: In cases of diesel spillage, mud, or other road surface contamination that is a danger to road users, notify the local police.

[Xan173]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/WhereYouLive/StreetsParkingCleaningAndLighting/DG_10029816

You might also find this useful http://fill-it-in.mag-uk.org/fill_it_in_councils.html

[Dangerous Dave]

As already mentioned, you are allowed to call 999 for diesel spills as it is a specialist road hazard.

[lukemillar]

Just out of curiousity - how do you all know it's diesel? Do you just see a rainbow patch and assume diesel?

I would argue that most of the rainbow blotches I saw were actually oil drips. When one single drop of oil hits a wet road it spreads massively, creating the large rainbow blotches, when in fact is a tiny amount of oil!

I'm not doubting that diesel is a hazard or that it is not dangerous, but from my experience of riding in the UK, it isn't quite the diesel fest that bikers are so keen to make out!

[Dangerous Dave]

Diesel, Oil, Petrol, its all classed the same by the old bill.