BECAUSE of the serious nature of encountering spilled diesel I thought you might be interested to know that the Highways Agency has won the KillSpills/ British Motor-cyclists Federation Award 2007 for achievement in reducing diesel spills'.

They were presented with the award at this year's KillSpills event last Saturday at BikefestUK, Donington Park race circuit.

The annual award, which is designed to recognise those helping to reduce the menace to motorcyclists by spilt diesel on our roads, goes to the Highways Agency for the extensive work they have done, and are continuing to do, in publicising the dangers of diesel spills.

The initiative involves, among other things, working in partnership with a number of organisations to distribute 180,000 anti diesel-spill stickers, designed to be placed next to the fuel cap of commercial vehicles, to raise awareness of the dangers of overfilling diesel tanks.

They have been issued to 42 police forces for onward distribution to road hauliers as part of Operation Mermaid, to HM Customs for distribution to lorry and bus drivers as they undertake their road fuel testing stops across the country.

To all UK fire services to be displayed on service vehicles to help support the initiative, and to the Freight Transport Association for distribution to their members and at FTA events.

In addition, the Highways Agency has been working with local authorities and supply chain with the aim of having all public services and Highways Agency contractors and sub-contractor vehicles displaying anti diesel-spill warning stickers as standard.

As part of the wider HGV safety campaign, the Highways Agency has also developed an anti diesel-spill animated message which has been added to their Heavy Good Vehicle' website, www.heavygood vehicle.com.

Stuart Lovatt, the Highways Agency's safety action plan coordinator, said: "I'm pleased and honoured that the agency has been nominated for this award.

"We take road safety very seriously and have recognised that diesel spillages are a real hazard to all road users and especially to motorcyclists.

"We are working hard to raise awareness that diesel spillage can be avoided."

This is the third year of the award, previous winners being Asda in 2005 and Sainsbury's in 2006 for the work they had done in raising their fleet drivers' awareness to the dangers.

With this standard of support we might even see roads becoming more bike- friendly - I hope.