Tackling roadside litter :Cross Stitch – Travel and transport

Litter on motorways and roads is not just unsightly, it can be dangerous to drivers and damaging to wildlife and the environment. Find out who’s responsible for clearing litter and debris and what you can do to help.

Litter on the roads can be a serious problem. It can:

• damage or injure wildlife in the area
• block drains
• cause accidents

If you throw litter from a car, it could cause an accident by:

• hitting a windscreen
• causing a driver behind you to swerve to avoid it

Clearing litter from motorways and busy roads can be a dangerous job. It also costs money that could be spent on road surface maintenance and structural repairs.

The Highways Agency is responsible for litter collection on motorways in England. Local councils are responsible for clearing litter on most all-purpose trunk roads.

In Wales this is the responsibility of the Transport Directorate of the Welsh Assembly. In Scotland it is done by Transport Scotland.

On a private road or private land, litter is the responsibility of the landowner.

Keep a paper bag in the car to store food wrappers and general litter until you find a suitable bin

Litter or debris can be particularly dangerous on motorways and trunk roads. This is because drivers are likely to be travelling fast and may have to skid or swerve to avoid it. If you see litter that you think could be a hazard, you should report it to the relevant highway authority using the numbers below:

• in England call the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000
• in Scotland call the Traffic Scotland Customer Care Line on 0800 028 1414
• in Wales call the Traffic Wales Hotline on 0845 602 6020

All these lines are open 24 hours a day.

Remember not to use your mobile phone while driving. Ask a passenger to make the call or wait until you can stop in a safe place.