Idling

Idling is a frustrating and unnecessary source of air pollution. Many people in our network repeatedly witness it happening outside their houses and schools, and at playgrounds and hospitals. Leaving your engine running may seem harmless, but it has tremendous impacts that negatively affect everyone.

Idling wastes a significant amount of money on fuel and puts harmful toxins into the air where people are walking, waiting or playing. Not only that, but idling is an offence under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and drivers can be fined for doing it.

Did you know that leaving your engine running for 30 seconds produces nearly twice as much nitrogen oxide pollution as switching off and then restarting the engine?

The toxic emissions from exhaust fumes contain nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, as well as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, among others. These are linked to various health effects, including asthma, stroke and lung cancer.

In order to raise awareness about why idling is so problematic, many of our members have been approaching idling drivers at the kerbside and outside schools. We give drivers a flyer, speak to them in a friendly manner to ask if they’re about to move off and if they’re not, explain the damage idling can do. We’ve co-ordinated with a number of schools to hand out idling flyers in children’s school bags, or to send them out digitally with newsletters.

You can download our flyer below, or head to the Resources page to order some printed versions to be sent out to you for free.