24 May 2004

AA "Use your Nozzle" misfuelling campaign with UKPIA - NINE MILLION REMINDER CARDS FOR MOTORISTS WHEN THEY FILL UP

Motorists will be handed advice cards at more than 5,000 petrol stations across the UK to warn of the dangers of putting the wrong fuel in their car.

The nine million cards, which will be distributed over the next few weeks, are part of an on-going awareness campaign launched by The AA Motoring Trust.

The “Use Your Nozzle” campaign- the biggest ever in the UK - is aimed at warning drivers about the simple but costly mistake of putting the wrong fuel in their car, which affects over 120,000 UK drivers each year and can cost up to £3,000 to fix. Misfuelling wastes enough fuel to fill 150 petrol tankers.

The information campaign is supported by the UK Petroleum Industry Association, the Petrol Retailers’ Association, the Association of UK Oil Independents and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association.

Misfuelling usually happens when drivers put petrol into diesel-engined cars as the narrow petrol nozzle fits into the wider diesel tube. The problem is increasing because of the recent boom in the sales of diesels, which now account for one in four of all new cars sold.

Bert Morris, Deputy Director of The AA Motoring Trust, says: “The major oil companies have agreed to standardise the colour of nozzles, which is very welcome, as is their decision to review nozzle adverts to reduce potential customer confusion at the point of delivery. “However, we need to see these changes coming in now to help the motorist avoid the cost ofmisfuelling.”

Chris Hunt, UKPIA’s Director General, says: “Although the number of incorrect fuellings is a tiny proportion of the billions of fill-ups at filling stations each year, these mistakes represent a serious inconvenience and potential heavy cost for customers affected. I am sure that the measures already taken to improve clarity at the pump, combined with the AA Trust’s information campaign at the 3,000 or more petrol stations owned by UKPIA members, will raise awareness and improve the situation.”

Petrol nozzles at many filling stations already carry messages alerting drivers to the misfuelling problem.

The cost of repairing the damage done when a car has been filled with the wrong fuel depends on whether it has been driven before the mistake is noticed. If it has not been started, then usually the tank simply needs to be drained, but if the car has been driven major repairs may be needed, which can cost as much as £3,000.

Morris adds: “We must try to reduce misfuelling by raising awareness of the problem among all drivers, so that every time they refuel they make the right decision about what they are putting in the tank.”