Police patrol cars are to be fitted with talking petrol caps after officers from one force caused £42,000 of damage by filling vehicles with the wrong type of fuel.

 

In the past five years, Essex police have had to pay out 222 times for repairs caused by its drivers putting petrol in diesel engines or vice versa.

 

To combat the problem, the force has fitted large yellow flaps over the filling point, reminding the drivers which fuel to use. The vehicles have also been fitted with voice reminders telling drivers "this is a diesel vehicle" when the fuel cap is opened.

 

John Franklin, spokesman for the RAC said using the wrong fuel was a common problem. He added however: "You would think the police should be properly trained to know what fuel a car needs.

 

"If you are going to be using numerous types of cars, then it needs to be clear, but I don't know whether talking petrol caps are really necessary."

 

 

And its our tax money thats paying for this :rolleyes: Stupidity at its best!!!!

hope thay can be reprogrammed then they can say to them "you are a tw@t";)

I hear this on the radio today ,and the police spoksman said the police have a lot to think about, so no and again they do make mistakes as they are only human!

I'll play the devil's advocate here. If you could consider the ratio of petrol/diesel cars in the police force maybe about 50% and with a lot of the high power diesels being as smooth/fast as their petrol counterparts, then it’s not that suprising.

 

I am sure there are a few on here who've accidentally pushed in a diesel nosel into their Z by mistake. It's easy enough to do if you're in a hurry. I don't really think it's a case of training. Reminding, yes.

Reminds of a colleague who had an argument with an officer, who then ordered him to fill every vehicle up with diesel, he did :D

im sure a great big yellow sticker for petrol and black sticker for diesel over the fuel cap will be enough. talking filler caps... how downright embarassing!

Happens on here at LEAST 6 times a year there is a post "I've accidently put diesil in my Zed!"

 

If we can do it with our pride and joys then I dont see how they cant do it when swapping about cars all the time.

Happens on here at LEAST 6 times a year there is a post "I've accidently put diesil in my Zed!"

 

If we can do it with our pride and joys then I dont see how they cant do it when swapping about cars all the time.

 

Dude I'm not so sure.....

 

 

If the revcounter goes to 5000 it's a DIESEL!

 

If it goes to 9000 it's a PETROL!

 

 

Easy init? :p

You can not put a diesel nozzle into a modern petrol tank, the nozzles have changed!