Binmen in plea over impatient motorists

Binmen have claimed impatient drivers caused more than 100 dangerous incidents on the roads in just 12 months, prompting a safety crackdown.

Municipal contractor Biffa, the council and police are asking motorists to be calm, considerate and patient towards crews out and about on the roads in South Staffordshire.

The scheme was launched this month after Biffa reported 104 dangerous driving incidents, including driving too fast and too close to get around collection vehicles, squeezing too tightly past binmen on narrow roads and even mounting pavements.

Business manager Matt Bailey said there had been a worrying increase in the number of "near misses" where his crews have been endangered by impatient drivers.

"My crews are only trying to do their job," he said. "That's what local residents want and expect them to do. All we ask is for some consideration by other road users. Our vehicles don't hold up traffic for long, and drivers are usually soon on their way, so it really isn't necessary to get impatient, frustrated or angry."

He added that drivers would not behave in such an irresponsible way if a bus was dropping off schoolchildren or the elderly.

As part of the local campaign, impatient and dangerous drivers will be reported to the police and could possibly be prosecuted.

Councillor Joan Williams, cabinet member for environmental services at South Staffordshire Council, said: "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 we're asking is for people to stay calm, let the crews do their jobs and they'll soon be on their way."

Across Biffa's 40-plus local council contracts last year, there were nearly 1,100 reports of bad driving near misses and 400 injuries, with 12 Biffa staff actually being hit by vehicles.

By Elizabeth Joyce