One in three drivers admit to throwing litter out of their vehicle window

More than 13 million drivers are littering on Britain’s roads, risking fines and putting other drivers at risk, new research shows.

UK drivers were polled by car leasing company Leasing Options on their attitudes to littering, with 35% admitting to throwing rubbish out of their car window.

The results show younger drivers were the worst culprits, with a huge 64% of 18 to 24 year olds polled admitting to littering, compared to just 10% of drivers aged over 65.

There were also huge regional differences exposed in the research, with drivers much more likely to litter in Scotland than England or Wales.

More than half (52%) of motorists in Edinburgh and Glasgow admitted to throwing their rubbish out of the window, compared to 34% in London and 33% in Cardiff.

The research also revealed that male drivers are more likely to litter than female drivers, with 41% of men polled confessing to dumping their rubbish, compared to 29% of women.

New measures announced by the Government earlier this year could mean local councils will have the power to fine vehicle owners if litter is thrown from it as part of a nationwide effort to reduce the amount of rubbish on Britain’s major roads.

Civil Enforcement Officers in London already have the power to issue a penalty charge notice if they have reason to believe litter was thrown from a vehicle and the Litter Strategy for England puts forward proposals to extend this to the rest of the country.

Mike Thompson, Brand Manager at Leasing Options, said: “From the state of many roads and motorways across the country, it’s clear that penalties are not harsh enough to deter motorists from littering.

“It’s concerning to see young drivers are the worst culprits for littering as these drivers are likely to be on the roads for many years to come.

“Although it will always be difficult to identify those who throw litter from their cars, greater powers should be given to local councils to fine drivers to make them think twice before they drop rubbish out their window.”