Red light to car litter

09.32 | 17 July 2009 | | 21 comments

Motorists spotted dropping litter from their car should be fined and receive one penalty point on their licence, says Keep Britain Tidy.

The anti-litter charity has launched a campaign to tackle drivers who ‘lash the trash’.

As well as being ‘disgusting’, Keep Britain Tidy says throwing litter from cars can also be very dangerous for other road users, particularly cyclists and motorcyclists who can be distracted or hit by items.

Phil Barton, Keep Britain Tidy chief executive, said: “Our research shows that the best deterrent to stop motorists littering is points on their licence, community service and a large fine – in that order.

“It needs to be easier to prosecute offenders. The owner should be responsible for the actions of those inside the car. We therefore want the law to go further and see a penalty point put on the licence of those that litter from vehicles.”

A month long car litter campaign will see posters going up nationwide to remind motorists of their responsibilities.

Nearly 100 councils in England will be working with Keep Britain Tidy to gather evidence on when and where car litter offences occur. They will also be campaigning to raise awareness of the problem.

Click here to read the full Keep Britain Tidy news release.

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    Hi. Where can I report driver who through rubbish out window. Recorded on car DVR. Thanks


    Nr. G, LEYLAND
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    I live in a village next to Heathrow Airport. I get fed up cleaning up the heaps of litter dumped from cars hanging around the area. They also dump bags of poo and bottles of wee!


    Jenny
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    I challenged a motorist who threw a plastic bottle out of a window on a country lane in the Cotswolds (I was walking). He stopped, got out and verbally threatened to throw me into the ditch too. Churlish, sad and a complete slob of a man. His threats were as all mouth as he just drove off at high speed. I will continue to embarrass people in public places who throw litter. I’m a Judo Dan grade so I have no fear of anybody ‘Throwing’ me into a ditch.


    Mike Eves – Stratford upon Avon
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    +4

    Challenged a driver of a grey VW Golf in Ellon after she throw a cigarette out of the window of her car. Reminded her that throwing litter was an offence and invited her to pick up. She drove off without doing so. Is this really acceptable behaviour from an adult?


    Graham, Ellon
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    +1

    3 passengers in red Nissan micra, stuck in traffic by EDF in Exeter, throwing KFC wrappers out of the window followed by old shoes and scraps. Disgusting!


    Amanda – Exeter
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    +1

    went to the local shop for my lunch today. While sitting there watched the driver of a white renault first chuck his chip papers shortly followed by his finished coke can out onto the floor when there are bins outside the shops. I live in this area, it’s not like he was a youngster either. Come on, we should all be doing the right thing and put it in the bin.


    I.J.Harvey, Bradwell, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
    Agree (1) | Disagree (0)
    +1

    I was driving back from Reading through Purley. The front passenger in a blue vauxhall corsa threw a large fast food bag out of the window. I flashed my headlights at them and got a lot of obscene hand signals back for about a mile (especially when they realised I had photographed the car when we had stopped at traffic lights). Its sheer laziness. I hate it.


    ali Pangbourne
    Agree (3) | Disagree (0)
    +3

    At approx 16:25 Thursday 13/3/14 the front seat passenger of blue/black Peugot 407 estate threw a plastic drinks bottle out the car window onto the beautiful Avon Causeway near Christchurch. Philistine!


    Julie – Ferndown, Dorset
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    On Sunday 09th September 2012. I was in a taffic jam coming out of Bournemouth directly behind a silver vauxhall vectra, a child constantly threw waste out of the windows…bad enough. But what can I say, the driver also threw out litter. It’s absolutely disgusting! They dont realise to litter pick these roads costs us tax payer thousands of pounds.These people have no values, how can you chastise a child when the parent is such a bad example to follow.


    Deborah Hughes Andover
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    Travelling back from Asda’s Watford today I witnessed a young girl throwing cigarette packet and wrapping out of her car window onto college road, what an inconsiderate thing to do, should have followed her and chucked my litter on the road outside her house!!


    A.Johnson, Hemel Hempstead.
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    Saturday 16th July 2011 a Blue Peugot reg;
    SE06 FBV was approaching the roundabout at Farnborough Gate Retail Park, stopped in traffic and just threw a “Burger King” type large cup out of his driver side windown onto the grassed area beside the road, he had total disregard for what he was doing and what he was making the area look like, after all the Council only spend 100’s of thousands of pounds a year trying to make the place look welcoming !!!


    Andrew from Farnborough who like living in a tidy place !!!
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    There should be a web site where you can report vehicles throwing rubbish out of the window . Vehicle registration number and time and date should generate a warning letter.


    Martin from Torquay
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    +4

    Red Citroen Saxo 7982MOH on 20/04/2010 at approx 11:55hrs in Wraysbury Nr Staines first discarded through driver’s window a red McDonalds food container, then further up the road threw out a sauce sachet.


    Anthony Fisher, observed when driving work’s vehicle when dring from Staines to Wraysbury.
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    0

    A car passenger opened the door to throw out a newspaper in Bolton this morning. 21/12/2009. Where do I report this?


    Adrian G Bolton
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    Hi Think this is an ok idea but it’s kinda hard to write someones number while your driving, think the money would be better recruiting the super star celebs like Beckham, Gerrard, Cheryl Cole and so on to advertise that putting your rubbish in the bin is really cool, as the people of today think it’s cool to chuck your rubbish on the floor, so maybe the celebs can persuade everyone that it’s cool to bin it.


    Tony Bewley Wigan
    Agree (1) | Disagree (0)
    +1

    I live next door to someone who is a regular fast food junkie, they constantly throw rubbish out of their car into my drive,in the street and my local authority won’t do anything about it


    Pat, Platt Bridge ,Wigan
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    Suggest you visit the Keep Britain Tidy website to see if there is a facility to report motorists who drop litter.


    Nick Rawlings, Stennik
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    How do I report a someone who threw a macDonalds bag out of their car window into the road. I have their car details.


    A. Reading, Berkshire.
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    Am struggling with this website – the ad on the radio says you can report litter-bugs – please let me know where and how!!


    Jenny B – Reading, Berkshire
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    I wish i had taken the Reg No of the car outside my house on Sunday, stopped to eat his take away and drop his rubbish for us to dispose of.


    J.A.Lee – Cradley, Halesowen
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    0

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