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 when stationary may seem harmless, but its impact negatively affects everyone.
Idling releases toxic exhaust fumes that contain harmful gases, including nitrogen oxides. Idling wastes fuel and money and damages our health by contributing to many health conditions. These include asthma, lung disease, cancer, dementia, stroke, heart problems, and more.
Children are particularly at risk because their lungs are still developing, they breathe faster than adults, and they are often closest to car exhausts.
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 impact of idling cars outside schools at drop-off and pickup times has been found to lower academic performance.
Idling is an offence under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and drivers can be fined for doing it.
To raise awareness about why idling is so problematic, many in our network have been approaching idling drivers at the kerbside and outside schools to give them a flyer, or writing to businesses using our template letter. We’ve also coordinated with a number of schools to hand out idling flyers in children’s school bags or to send them out digitally with their newsletters. Get in touch if you’d like a digital version of the flyer.
You can download our flyer and template letter below, or order some printed versions to be sent out to you for free.
With thanks to our volunteer Caroline for the original design of this flyer!
