A local Euro-MP wants action to prevent the costly misery suffered by thousands of East Midlands drivers at the petrol station each year.
More than 120,000 people across the UK mistakenly put the wrong fuel into their cars at filling stations last year, thousands of them in the East Midlands.
The number of AA callouts to deal with the problem has risen by almost 10% over the last five years, and the equivalent of 13 tanker loads of fuel is said to be wasted through misfuelling incidents every month.
Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Bill Newton Dunn says this 'misfuelling' creates huge expense and inconvenience for motorists. He wants Europe-wide action by car manufacturers and fuel suppliers to curb the problem and is calling on the European Commission to act.
Mr Newton Dunn says that the average cost to motorists for a misfuelling error is around £130, but if damage is caused due to driving the car with the incorrect fuel, the repair bills can sometimes run into thousands.
Possible solutions to the problem vary from differently shaped nozzles at pumps to clearer markings and audio warning.
He said: “Everyone knows someone who has made this mistake, and we can all imagine the cry of frustration it must produce. The problem is not unique to British drivers and happens across the continent.
Notes:
The AA advises those who do misfuel their car not to start the engine, or to switch off as soon as possible. Contaminated fuel must then be drained by a garage using authorised equipment and with approved disposal facilities.
Contact: Bill Newton Dunn: 07939 250473 or Tiffany Venning: +32 485 954 113
Press Release from Bill NEWTON DUNN MEP
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY PARTY
Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament
UK Delegation of the ELDR Group
Rue Wiertz, B-1047 Brussels
Tel: +32 2 284 2203