Plea to motorists over diesel spills

Calderdale Council has said the spills often occur through simple oversights and diesel deposited on a road is as slippery as black ice. A clean road can be made dangerous in seconds by just one vehicle spilling diesel on it. The loss of control can prove lethal for a motorcycle riders.

The council provides a round-the-clock call-out service to clean and make road surfaces safe.

Calderdale Council's road safety projects manager, David Short, said: "I urge drivers of diesel vehicles to take some simple steps to prevent diesel spills and make our roads safer.

"Do not overfill the tank, diesel expands when warm and can overflow out of the tank. Always ensure the filler cap seals are in good condition and always ensure the filler cap is firmly secured after refuelling."