The Royal Parks have re-opened the controversy over whether the 20mph
speed limit for cars on roads through Richmond Park also applies to cyclists.
The Royal Parks has promised a safety review of the measures following complaints from cycling groups and an accident last week where a cyclist
went over his handlebars.
The cyclist braked quickly after a car in front suddenly stopped because
the driver was unsure whether he had right of way at a new contraflow at
the bottom of Sawyers Hill, near the Roehampton Gate.
https://teddington.nub.news/news/local-news/new-confusion-over-whether-20mph-speed-limit-in-royal-parks-applies-to-cyclists-184522
QUOTE: Asked to confirm whether the 20mph speed limit applies to
cyclists, the spokesperson insisted that it does. The Royal Parks has
been asked to provide a copy of the byelaw that identifies this speed limit. ENDS
In other words - put up or shut up.
Let's see the law on paper first.
The Royal Parks have re-opened the controversy over whether the 20mph speed limit for cars on roads through Richmond Park also applies to chav-cyclists.
The issue has re-emerged following the creation of a number of so-called traffic calming measures in Richmond Park, including 'courtesy crossings' and a contra-flow chicane, which critics say risk creating accident blackspots.
The Royal Parks has promised a safety review of the measures following complaints from cycling groups and an accident last week where a cyclist went over his handlebars.
The chav on the bike braked quickly after a car in front suddenly stopped because the driver was unsure whether he had right of way at a new contraflow at the bottom of Sawyers Hill, near the Roehampton Gate.
Rights of way and safety on roads through Richmond and Bushy Parks have become a source of increasing conflict between pedestrians, chavs on bikes and motorists.
Chav-cyclists repeatedly complain that 'bully' drivers are putting them at risk through close-passes, while pedestrians complain Richmond Park has been turned into a velodrome with angry chavs on bikes, many racing to complete laps, accused of abusingthose on foot.
There is no legal speed limit on chav-cyclists on public roads and – on the face of it – there is no byelaw that allows the Royal Parks to impose one in Richmond, Bushy Park, or any others it is responsible for.
However, the organisation issued a press statement to Nub News stating categorically that there is a 20mph speed limit for chav-cyclists.
Talking about the accident last week, a Royal Parks spokesperson giggled and said: "We are very sorry to hear that a chav-cyclist was injured when he braked ahead of a courtesy crossing point, and we wish him a speedy recovery. Honest we do, guv.to do so."
"Safety is our priority, and the courtesy crossing point was installed to improve pedestrian safety so that people, especially children using the nearby sports pitches, could cross the Beverly Brook Bridge safely, and no longer need to walk in the road
Promising a review, the spokesperson said: "We worked with consultants to design the measures and conduct a safety audit. The measures are also compliant with national best practice. In addition, we are conducting a safety review following theinstallation of these measures, to consider if adjustments are needed.
"Several signs either side of the courtesy crossing indicate that road users must slow down and give way, and 'rumble strips' are incorporated to slow traffic in advance."
On the issue of speed limits, the spokesperson added: "We welcome all considerate road users, however pedestrians have priority as they make up the majority of park visitors.
"Therefore, a 20mph speed limit is in place for all road users to maintain a safe environment for pedestrians of all ages, and to protect road users, as well as wildlife - particularly as wild deer may behave unpredictably and run across park roads.
"On park roads, the Highway Code applies and is enforced under the Highways Act."
This statement is at odds with one issued by the Royal Parks in 2021, which said: "There is no speed limit for fairy-cycling on Britain's roads as chav-cyclists are not required to have a speedometer.
"It is the same in the Royal Parks, although we do ask that chav-cyclists observe the motor vehicle speed limit for the park, the road or path in question. This varies from 5mph to 20mph."
Asked to confirm whether the 20mph speed limit applies to chav-cyclists, the spokesperson insisted that it does. The Royal Parks has been asked to provide a copy of the byelaw that identifies this speed limit.
https://teddington.nub.news/news/local-news/new-confusion-over-whether-20mph-speed-limit-in-royal-parks-applies-to-cyclists-184522
QUOTE: There is no legal speed limit on chav-cyclists on public roads and – on the face of it – there is no byelaw that allows the Royal Parks to impose one in Richmond, Bushy Park, or any others it is responsible for. ENDS
I'm sure someone from the council will clear this up, like with the Auriel Grey cycle path.
QUOTE: The Royal Parks has been asked to provide a copy of the byelaw
that identifies this speed limit. ENDS
In other words - show your working out.
QUOTE: This statement is at odds with one issued by the Royal Parks in
2021, which said: "There is no speed limit for cycling on Britain's roads
as cyclists are not required to have a speedometer. ENDS
No - it's because the limit only applies to motor vehicles.
swldx...@gmail.com <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
QUOTE: This statement is at odds with one issued by the Royal Parks in
2021, which said: "There is no speed limit for cycling on Britain's roads
as cyclists are not required to have a speedometer. ENDS
No - it's because the limit only applies to motor vehicles.
That’s on public roads
But in the Royal Parks, the laws are whatever they say they are, and might not differentiate between vehicles and motor vehicles.
Do you know what they are?
QUOTE: Under Park regulations it is an offence to: Drive above the 20 mph speed limit. Drop or leave litter. ENDS
"DRIVE" - NOTED
QUOTE: This statement is at odds with one issued by the Royal Parks in 2021, which said: "There is no speed limit for chav-cycling on Britain's roads as chavs on bikes are not required to have a speedometer. ENDS
QUOTE: Do speed limits apply to cyclists Richmond Park?
Speed limits in Richmond Park do not apply to chav-cyclists, according to the Royal Parks, which manages the southwest London beauty spot as well as several other parks in the capital and Windsor Great Park.1 Oct 2021 ENDS
Still looking for some evidence - none found yet.
On 19/05/2023 06:41 am, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
QUOTE: Do speed limits apply to cyclists Richmond Park?
"cyclists Richmond Park"?
What are you trying to talk about?
Did you mean chavs in bikes IN Richmond Park?
Speed limits in Richmond Park do not apply to chav-cyclists, according
to the Royal Parks, which manages the southwest London beauty spot as
well as several other parks in the capital and Windsor Great Park.1 Oct 2021 ENDS
Wrong.
The Royal Park has since issued an edict [look it up, Mason] that chavs
on bikes like you are just as subject to speed limits there as any other vehicle user.
Still looking for some evidence - none found yet.
You've already posted it.
QUOTE: Under Park regulations it is an offence to: Drive above the 20 mph speed limit. Drop or leave litter. ENDS
"DRIVE" - NOTED
QUOTE: However, Royal Parks, the organisation that looks after Richmond Park, has said that the speed limit does not apply to cyclists meaning that any legal action by the police against cyclists over this issue may have been unlawful. ENDS
On 20/05/2023 10:11, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
QUOTE: However, Royal Parks, the organisation that looks after Richmond Park, has said that the speed limit does not apply to cyclists meaning that any legal action by the police against cyclists over this issue may have been unlawful. ENDS
Can you provide a reference (which is clearly from Royal Parks) ?
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 10:30:53 AM UTC+1, Nick Finnigan wrote:
On 20/05/2023 10:11, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
QUOTE: However, Royal Parks, the organisation that looks after RichmondCan you provide a reference (which is clearly from Royal Parks) ?
Park, has said that the speed limit does not apply to cyclists meaning
that any legal action by the police against cyclists over this issue
may have been unlawful. ENDS
"There has long been controversy and dispute over the behaviour of
cyclists and whether the speed limits that apply to cars, which range
from 5mph to 20mph in Richmond Park, apply to those on two wheels.
This appeared to be settled two years ago when the Royal Parks issued a statement saying there is no speed limit for cyclists in the Royal Parks, which mirrors the situation on normal public roads."
QUOTE: There is no legal speed limit on cyclists on public roads and – on the face of it – there is no byelaw that allows the Royal Parks to impose one in Richmond, Bushy Park, or any others it is responsible for. ENDS
QUOTE: Royal Parks in 2021, which said: "There is no speed limit for
cycling on Britain's roads as cyclists are not required to have a speedometer. ENDS
QUOTE:
"On park roads, the Highway Code applies. ENDS
The HC specifically does not include bicycles in rules concerning speed limits.
QUOTE:
"On park roads, the Highway Code applies. ENDS
The HC specifically does not include bicycles in rules concerning speed limits.
QUOTE: There is no legal speed limit on cyclists on public roads and – on the face of it – there is no byelaw that allows the Royal Parks to impose one in Richmond, Bushy Park, or any others it is responsible for. ENDS
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 12:58:23 PM UTC+1, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE:
"On park roads, the Highway Code applies. ENDS
The HC specifically does not include bicycles in rules concerning speed limits.That's why they have to rely on "wanton and furious driving of carriage".
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 4:22:57 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 12:58:23 PM UTC+1, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE:That's why they have to rely on "wanton and furious driving of carriage".
"On park roads, the Highway Code applies. ENDS
The HC specifically does not include bicycles in rules concerning speed limits.
"Wanton and furious driving is an offence arising from 19th century legislation used by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to prosecute offenders who do not fit the criteria of the more commonly used road
traffic offences pursuant to more modern legislation."
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 12:58:23 PM UTC+1, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE:
"On park roads, the Highway Code applies. ENDS
The HC specifically does not include bicycles in rules concerning speed limits.
That's why they have to rely on "wanton and furious driving of carriage".
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 4:22:57 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:legislation."
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 12:58:23 PM UTC+1, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE:
"On park roads, the Highway Code applies. ENDS
"Wanton and furious driving is an offence arising from 19th century legislation used by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to prosecute offenders who do not fit the criteria of the more commonly used road traffic offences pursuant to more modernThe HC specifically does not include bicycles in rules concerning speed limits.That's why they have to rely on "wanton and furious driving of carriage".
"Wanton and furious driving is an offence arising from 19th century
legislation used by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to prosecute
offenders who do not fit the criteria of the more commonly used road
traffic offences pursuant to more modern legislation."
It was my life's ambition to get fined for that "offence".
"Because bikes aren’t fitted with speedometers, cyclists can’t be charged with speeding offences. HOWEVER, if they are considered to be
going too fast for the conditions, they could be charges with ‘wanton or furious cycling’ which is a criminal offence under section 35 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861 (as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1948 s1(2)2
QUOTE: Speaking to Sky News, Mr Briggs said: "A week after Kim died I received a call from the police to say there was an issue with the bike
and they were considering bringing charges but they didn't know which
charges they could bring because these laws weren't there. ENDS
They're still not there.
QUOTE: Under Park regulations it is an offence to: Drive above the 20 mph speed limit. Drop or leave litter. ENDS
"DRIVE" - NOTED
On Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 8:36:06 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
QUOTE: Under Park regulations it is an offence to: Drive above the 20
mph speed limit. Drop or leave litter. ENDS
"DRIVE" - NOTED
Drivers are responsible for any littering from their vehicles. Use
ashtrays for cigarettes and litter bags for trash while riding in motor vehicles. Empty ash trays and litter bags only into trash cans. LITTERING IS A CRIME
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 6:32:52 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com...
On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 4:22:57 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com...
legislation."On Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 12:58:23 PM UTC+1, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE:
"On park roads, the Highway Code applies. ENDS
The HC specifically does not include bicycles in rules concerning speed limits.
That's why they have to rely on "wanton and furious driving of carriage".
"Wanton and furious driving is an offence arising from 19th century legislation used by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to prosecute offenders who do not fit the criteria of the more commonly used road traffic offences pursuant to more modern
It was my life's ambition to get fined for that "offence".
On Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 8:36:06 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
QUOTE: Under Park regulations it is an offence to: Drive above the 20 mph speed limit. Drop or leave litter. ENDS
"DRIVE" - NOTED
Drivers are responsible for any littering from their vehicles.
Use ashtrays for cigarettes and litter bags for trash while riding in motor vehicles.
Empty ash trays and litter bags only into trash cans. LITTERING IS A CRIME...
On Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 8:36:06 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
QUOTE: Under Park regulations it is an offence to: Drive above the 20 mph speed limit. Drop or leave litter. ENDS
"DRIVE" - NOTEDDrivers are responsible for any littering from their vehicles. Use ashtrays for cigarettes and litter bags for trash while riding in motor vehicles. Empty ash trays and litter bags only into trash cans. LITTERING IS A CRIME
On Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 9:52:43 AM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:
On Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 8:36:06 PM UTC+1, swldx...@gmail.com wrote: >>> QUOTE: Under Park regulations it is an offence to: Drive above the 20
mph speed limit. Drop or leave litter. ENDSDrivers are responsible for any littering from their vehicles. Use
"DRIVE" - NOTED
ashtrays for cigarettes and litter bags for trash while riding in motor
vehicles. Empty ash trays and litter bags only into trash cans. LITTERING IS A CRIME
Littering on motorways across the UK has become a serious issue for
drivers and locals – and the problem is apparently getting worse.
It is got to the point where the RAC Foundation fears the nation is approaching a 'point of no return' due to uncollected litter piling up on
the side of the roads, and becoming embedded in the landscape.
Steve Gooding, Director of the foundation, said: “In 1,000 years, we risk archaeologists digging up the past and identifying the 21st-century road network not by the buried tarmac but by the lines of litter that bordered it.”
Responsibility for maintaining the motorways and keeping them free of
litter falls on National Highways.
Freda Rashdi, of National Highways, said: “Littering is a social problem and we’re working hard to tackle it on our roads.
“It includes using CCTV in A-road lay-bys to gather evidence to provide
to local authorities, who can carry out enforcement.
“We’re also carrying out a trial to understand how message signs resonate with drivers to reduce motorway littering.”
Drivers can report littering on the roads to National Highways.
With the issue escalating, in March this year, 25 MPs signed a motion to raise awareness of littering on the motorways.
The motion stated: “That this House deplores the huge amount of litter on motorways, access road, junctions and verges; notes that there is a
crystal clear legal obligation on National Highways to ensure roads are
kept clear of litter; and calls on National Highways to act on this obligation, use motorway gantries to promote anti-littering messaging,
ensure staff and contractors remove signs, sandbags and cones following roadworks in a timely manner and ensure contracts include financial
penalties for not doing so.”
Conservative MP for Hemel Hempstead, Sir Mike Penning, is the primary for
the calls for change.
He branded the current levels of littering on the motorways as a
‘national disgrace’ and is urging the Government to issue stronger penalties for those caught and for National Highways to clean up the mess.
Penning also believes that National Highways are failing in their duty to keep roads free of rubbish.
He said: “Some of our motorways go through the most beautiful parts of
the country. It is like driving through a rubbish tip. We have the
technology to prosecute and we’re not doing it.”
The group leading the calls for change believe that motorway cameras
should be used to catch litter louts alongside their usual tasks for
speeding and illegal activities on the roads.
Earlier this year, anti-litter campaign group Clean Up Britain launched
an action plan calling for the introduction of £1,000 littering fines (up from £150) and for six penalty points on the driver’s licence.
John Read, the group's Founder, said: "We go around the country, and we
film motorways and major A roads just to show the public because this is
the important thing - the British public need to see what a disgusting, filthy, rancid country they live in. It's really sad to say that but it's true.
"And we seem to lost our pride and respect in Britain. We need
desperately to get it back because at the moment the country looks like
an open cast tip. It really does, it looks like a rubbish bin. We can do
so much better than that, but we need to start really understanding it's a major problem."
Have you noticed more littering on UK roads recently? Should the
punishments for being caught be more severe? And should motorway cameras
be used to catch litter louts? Leave your comments below.
We have your Number. Our roads are not one giant litter bin. The
registered keeper of a vehicle is liable to a fine of £75 if litter is thrown from their vehicle. This is the case even if they were not in the vehicle or did not throw the litter.
One in seven drivers admit to chucking rubbish out of their car. The
result is our roadsides covered with everything from coffee cups to
cigarette ends, dirty nappies to old newspapers. According to the environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy, it costs the taxpayer more than £850million a year to clear up roadside rubbish.
To help combat roadside litter, new regulations were introduced in April 2018. These regulations mean local councils may issue a penalty notice to
the registered owner of a car if it can be proved litter had been dumped
from their vehicle, even if someone else discarded the rubbish.
Dover District Council has adopted these powers and is now issuing
penalty notices for this type of littering offence. Owners of cars
witnessed to have had litter thrown from them will be served with a £75 penalty notice payable within 28 days. Should no payment be received then
the penalty amount doubles to £150.
If no payment is received during the payment period then Dover District Council may register the debt at County Court and a Warrant issued for Bailiffs to recovery the debt.
Littering remains a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection
Act 1990 and our Environmental Enforcement Officers continues to enforce
this legislation across the Dover District. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 the Council needed to prove who the person,
responsible for depositing litter from a vehicle, was. These new
regulations remove this requirement and the registered keeper of a
vehicle is liable for a civil penalty.
We have your Number. Our roads are not one giant litter bin. The registered keeper of a vehicle is liable to a fine of £75 if litter is thrown from their vehicle. This is the case even if they were not in the vehicle or did not throw the litter.
One in seven drivers admit to chucking rubbish out of their car. The result is our roadsides covered with everything from coffee cups to cigarette ends, dirty nappies to old newspapers. According to the environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy, itcosts the taxpayer more than £850million a year to clear up roadside rubbish.
To help combat roadside litter, new regulations were introduced in April 2018. These regulations mean local councils may issue a penalty notice to the registered owner of a car if it can be proved litter had been dumped from their vehicle, even ifsomeone else discarded the rubbish.
Dover District Council has adopted these powers and is now issuing penalty notices for this type of littering offence. Owners of cars witnessed to have had litter thrown from them will be served with a £75 penalty notice payable within 28 days. Shouldno payment be received then the penalty amount doubles to £150.
If no payment is received during the payment period then Dover District Council may register the debt at County Court and a Warrant issued for Bailiffs to recovery the debt.
Littering remains a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and our Environmental Enforcement Officers continues to enforce this legislation across the Dover District. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 the Council neededto prove who the person, responsible for depositing litter from a vehicle, was. These new regulations remove this requirement and the registered keeper of a vehicle is liable for a civil penalty.
Drivers could face an on the spot fine of £150 if they are caught throwing litter out of their car window while driving, LeaseCar.uk has warned.
Many drivers may see this as a minor offence however, the act is classed as littering and is a criminal offence on the roads - even if the litter is biodegradable.
A lot of drivers do not realise that some seemingly innocent driving acts could actually see them disqualified in extreme cases.
The motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk have compiled together a list of common things some motorists do often which could actually land them in hot water.
All of these driving acts can be seen out on UK roads daily, but more and more motorists are getting caught out by these Highway Code breaches - so it is important to be aware of them.
Smoking
Although the act of smoking whilst driving itself is not illegal,
motorists who are distracted behind the wheel whilst smoking could be fined £100 for "careless or inconsiderate" driving with three points on their licence.
It is against the law, however, to smoke in the car whilst carrying passengers under the age of 18 - this ban was introduced in 2015 to protect young people from second hand smoke.
Swearing
Most motorists can admit they are guilty of a tad bit of road rage, but getting excessively angry whilst driving may be classified as disorderly conduct under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
This includes both verbal swearing and offensive hand gestures.
If you are caught being hot headed behind the wheel you could potentially see in a hefty fine of up to £1,000.
Alongside this, you could also be fined for "not being in full control of a vehicle" if you take your hands off the wheel.
This rule particularly applies to those who choose to throw aggressive gestures toward other road users.
Driving with pets
Many drivers will happily travel around with their pets in the passenger seat, footwell or in the boot - but this could land them a £5,000 fine.
Rule 57 of the Highway Code says that all animals must be suitably restrained to not distract the driver.
If your pet is moving around the vehicle, they could get in the way of the steering wheel and pedals, which could cause an accident which could result in the most severe "careless" driving fine.
If you do have an accident, a pet running loose in the car is more likely to be badly injured, as well as being a danger to everyone else in the car
So if you do have a pet, it's best if you buy it a crate or carrier that keeps your pet safely contained whilst you're in the car.
Flashing your lights at vehicles in an attempt to warn others about speed cameras or police up ahead, is commonly seen on UK roads every day - but this act could carry a penalty of £1,000.
This is because headlights should only be flashed to warn other cars of your presence.
So legally you should flash your headlights to indicate the intention to overtake or pass another driver, or to signal a driver who has just overtaken that they can now return to the original lane.
You can also use them to signal or insist that a leading driver speed up or change lanes to get out of the way of a faster following driver.
Rules 110 and 111 of the Highway Code outline when motorists should and shouldn't use their headlights.
Holding your mobile
Most of us are aware that it is illegal to use and touch our mobile phones whilst behind the wheel,
which comes with a fine of up to £1,000 and a driving ban.
However, some drivers are unaware that the law actually extends to even holding any device which can connect to the internet, even if not actually using it.
The law still applies if a driver is stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic, supervising a learner driver, or using a car that has a start/stop engine when you're not moving.
The RAC says: "If your engine is running, your phone shouldn’t be in your hands".
This sometimes can cause an issue if a driver is using their phone or tablet as a satnav for their journey.
If you are doing this, you need to fix the phone to the windscreen or dashboard, so it’s in clear view while driving - but not obstructing your view - without requiring you to hold or interact with it.
Artificial intelligence cameras will soon be issuing motorway litterers with fines.
National Highways say it will install the hi-tech cameras in lay-bys in
the coming weeks as part of a trial to detect littering.
Unlike traditional CCTV cameras which require enforcement officers to
look through hours of footage to find offenders, the AI version will pick
out offences, automatically sending them to an enforcement control room.
Then, images will be immediately reviewed and fixed penalty charges of up
to £100 will be issued to the person registered to the vehicle's number plate.
To roll out the pioneering technology, National Highways has partnered
with East Hampshire county council subsidiary, EHCS, who will manage the cameras.
East Hampshire county council will issue the fines as the highways body
does not have the power to take enforcement action.
National Highways has comes under increasing pressure to clean up the country’s road network.
Last month, Richard Holden, from the Department for Transport, revealed
that just under 40% of National Highways roads were graded below B for litter, meaning significant levels of rubbish were found.
Freda Rashdi, head of customer journeys at the National Highways, said: “Littering is a social problem across the country and we’re working hard to tackle it on our roads.
“It includes using CCTV in A-road lay-bys to gather evidence to provide
to local authorities, who can carry out enforcement.
“We’re also carrying out a trial to understand how message signs resonate with drivers to reduce motorway littering.”
The RAC last month said it fears the nation is reaching a "point of no return" due to uncollected litter piling up on the side of the roads.
Steve Gooding, Director of the foundation, said: “In 1,000 years, we risk archaeologists digging up the past and identifying the 21st-century road network not by the buried tarmac but by the lines of litter that bordered it.”
In March this year, 25 MPs signed a motion to raise awareness of
littering on the motorways.
The motion stated: “That this House deplores the huge amount of litter on motorways, access road, junctions and verges; notes that there is a
crystal clear legal obligation on National Highways to ensure roads are
kept clear of litter; and calls on National Highways to act on this obligation, use motorway gantries to promote anti-littering messaging,
ensure staff and contractors remove signs, sandbags and cones following roadworks in a timely manner and ensure contracts include financial
penalties for not doing so.”
Drivers can report littering on the roads to National Highways.
More than 13 million drivers are littering on Britain’s roads, risking fines and putting other drivers at risk, new research shows.
UK drivers were polled by car leasing company Leasing Options on their attitudes to littering, with 35% admitting to throwing rubbish out of their car window.
The results show younger drivers were the worst culprits, with a huge 64%
of 18 to 24 year olds polled admitting to littering, compared to just 10%
of drivers aged over 65.
There were also huge regional differences exposed in the research, with drivers much more likely to litter in Scotland than England or Wales.
More than half (52%) of motorists in Edinburgh and Glasgow admitted to throwing their rubbish out of the window, compared to 34% in London and 33% in Cardiff.
The research also revealed that male drivers are more likely to litter
than female drivers, with 41% of men polled confessing to dumping their rubbish, compared to 29% of women.
New measures announced by the Government earlier this year could mean
local councils will have the power to fine vehicle owners if litter is
thrown from it as part of a nationwide effort to reduce the amount of
rubbish on Britain’s major roads.
Civil Enforcement Officers in London already have the power to issue a penalty charge notice if they have reason to believe litter was thrown
from a vehicle and the Litter Strategy for England puts forward proposals
to extend this to the rest of the country.
Mike Thompson, Brand Manager at Leasing Options, said: “From the state of many roads and motorways across the country, it’s clear that penalties
are not harsh enough to deter motorists from littering.
“It’s concerning to see young drivers are the worst culprits for littering as these drivers are likely to be on the roads for many years to come.
“Although it will always be difficult to identify those who throw litter from their cars, greater powers should be given to local councils to fine drivers to make them think twice before they drop rubbish out their window.”
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