Council backs safety drive to protect bin crews

The initiative, which aims to increase awareness by asking drivers to be patient, tolerant and safe when they encounter Biffa vehicles making collections in their area.

Past incidents have included cars being driven on pavements, cars driving too close to or hitting the companys vehicles, crews and bins, and drivers using threatening or abusive behaviour towards Biffa staff.

Biffas Wirral team also cited drivers speeding and squeezing too tightly past their vehicles as problems faced by crews making collections in 2012/13. Overall last year, there were 670 reports of bad driving incidents and near-misses reported across the companys 40-plus local authority contracts, with a total of three employees hit.

Biffa business manager Gary Robinson expressed his concern that the number of near-misses where his crews have been endangered by impatient drivers were on the rise.

He said: My crews are only trying to do their job. Thats what local residents want and expect them to do. All were asking for is some consideration by other road users. Our vehicles dont hold up traffic for long, and drivers are usually soon on their way, so it really isnt necessary to get impatient, frustrated or angry.

Saying that drivers wouldnt, and shouldnt, behave in such an irresponsible way if a bus was dropping off schoolchildren or the elderly, he added: So why should they when Biffa workers are out doing their important job?

Wirral

Brian Kenny, cabinet member for Environment and Sustainability for Wirral borough council, added: The crews are out five days a week, often in horrible weather, picking up rubbish and recycling from our doorsteps.

We try to make sure that they collect at the most convenient time and we always try to avoid busy roads and areas around schools at rush hour, whenever we can. But sometimes traffic can get held up, so all were asking is for people to stay calm, let the crews do their jobs, and theyll soon be on their way.

The campaign is backed by Merseyside Police, which support the protocol for reporting, investigating and prosecuting offences that could cause injury or damage. It warned offenders could face fines, community service or court prosecution.

The campaign follows a similar initiative spearheaded by the contractor and South Staffordshire council in June last year (see letsrecycle.com story). A total of 104 dangerous driving incidents were reported by Biffa crews in the district before the drive was launched.