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Bag It! And Bin It! - The Highways Agency Launches Its Summer Campaign Against Roadside Litter

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 03 August 2009

The Highways Agency today launches its summer ‘Bag it Bin it’ campaign, with the support of the AA, the RAC Foundation and the Institute of Advanced Motorists, reminding road users about the problems that litter can cause on motorways and major A roads.

For the Highways Agency, litter is not only unsightly but also a threat to the environment – a recent study by the AA showed that 88% of their members feel angry about people who cause roadside litter. The Highways Agency’s Road Users’ Satisfaction Surveys reflected this response when people were asked to rate the importance of keeping roads free of litter.

Clearing rubbish also puts workers at risk of injury and diverts resources away from road maintenance and repairs. The Highways Agency estimates that approximately 700,000 bags of litter are removed from our road network in England every year.

As part of ‘Bag it and Bin it’, drivers are being encouraged to carry a litter bag in their vehicle to collect their rubbish until it can be safely disposed of. To get the message across, the Highways Agency is distributing biodegradable and recyclable paper litter bags from its exhibition stand at events this summer.

Derek Turner, Highways Agency's Director of Network Operations, said:
"Clearing litter puts our road workers at risk from injury and diverts resources away from road maintenance and repairs. Items thrown from vehicles can a hazard to other road users.

“Litter is unsightly, is bad for the environment and can block drains and lead to localised flooding. We want to remind drivers to keep a bag for rubbish in their vehicle, and use it to store their litter until it can be thrown away safely in a bin, either when they break their journey or get to their destination.”

AA President Edmund King said:
“The latest data from our AA / Populus panel* shows that roadside littering makes our 15 million members angry but most are adamant they are not the cause of litter themselves - with only 8% admitting ‘litter guilt’. Whoever is to blame there is no excuse for being a roadside litter lout whose actions can result in causing a danger to other road users and also those who have to clear up after them.”

Philip Gomm of the RAC Foundation, said:
"This summer many motorists are having a staycation and holidaying in the UK, often travelling to the nation's wealth of beauty spots. They don't want to see the highways and byways buried under a pile of rubbish. The vast majority of drivers behave responsibly yet some remain intent on defacing our landscape. At a time when much attention is being focussed on making the car industry greener, the minority perhaps need reminding of the part they can play in maintaining this green and pleasant land."

Peter Rodger, Chief Examiner at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, added:
“Litter in the car is potentially dangerous. If an empty drinks can rolls into the driver’s footwell on a long motorway journey, the driver may not realise until it’s time to use the brake, only to find it difficult because the rubbish has found its way under the brake pedal.

“It’s also worth remembering that throwing litter out the window is not only anti social, it’s illegal, and could lead to an inconsiderate motorist getting a fine. A tidy and clean car reduces stress for all the passengers, and so reduces the potential for in-car distractions. On a long journey, taking a break every two hours is sensible, and you can at the same time ditch the rubbish as you bag it and bin it.”

Notes to Editors

Issued by the Highways Agency. For further information please contact Mark Powell on 0121 687 4078. Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office on 0207 081 7443.

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. The "Bag it! and Bin it!" bag, is recyclable and biodegradable. The bags will be distributed from the Highways Agency exhibition stand at shows across England.

3. The results of the AA/Populus panel survey in full:
'I have been responsible for causing roadside litter in the past'

Strongly agree 2%
Somewhat agree 6%
Neither agree or disagree 5%
Somewhat disagree 9%
Strongly disagree 77%
Don’t know 1%

‘I feel angry towards people who cause roadside litter’

Strongly agree 60%
Somewhat agree 28%
Neither agree or disagree 9%
Somewhat disagree 2%
Strongly disagree 1%
Don’t know 0%

* AA Populus survey 30 June – 6 July 2009 with 8,808 responses.

The panel is a panel of AA members who are surveyed every month on line by Populus. There are 75,000 who are signed up.

4. Real -time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is now available:
* From our new Traffic Radio service, available on DAB digital radio and the internet at http://www.trafficradio.org.uk To tune into the DAB service, simply press the "scan" button on your radio. The radio will tune into all available channels and you can select the new service by scrolling through the channels until you reach "Traffic Radio".
* On the internet at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
* By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).

5. Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.

6. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)

Out of hours the duty press officer can be contacted on 0207 081 7443.

Contacts:

Highways Out of Hours
Phone: 020 7081 7443
nds.highwaysagency@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Mark Powell.
Phone: 0121 687 4078
mark.powell@highways.gsi.gov.uk