Road litter campaign launched

Bag it! Bin it! That's the message from a new campaign to cut roadside litter.

Drivers should carry a litter bag that can be safely disposed of at the end of a journey, according to the Highways Agency campaign.

The initiative is backed by the AA, the RAC Foundation and the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

More than 700,000 bags of rubbish
Around 700,000 bags of rubbish are removed from the road network each year, according to The Highways Agency.

As well as damaging the environment, the Highways Agency says roadside litter can block drains and cause localised flooding increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.

Public angry with litter-lout drivers
A poll by the AA revealed that 77% of drivers claimed to have never dropped litter from their car, while 60% of those questioned said that litter-lout motorists made them angry.

AA president Edmund King said: 'The latest data from our poll shows that roadside littering makes our 15 million members angry, but most are adamant they are not the cause of litter themselves.

'There is no excuse for being a roadside litter-lout whose actions can cause a danger to other road users and also those who have to clear up after them.'

Philip Gomm of the RAC Foundation said: 'The vast majority of drivers behave responsibly, yet some remain intent on defacing our landscape.

'At a time when much attention is being focused on making the car industry greener, the minority need reminding of the part they can play in maintaining this green and pleasant land.'