Engine idling - why it's so harmful and what's being done

The Royal College of Physicians estimate 40,000 deaths a year in the UK are linked to air pollution, with engine idling contributing to this.

The Government is working to address the issue as a whole, but what can you do to help the situation?

Cutting out engine idling will help for a start - not only will it improve air quality in congested areas but it is also a potentially fine-able offence.

We take a look at why idling is so bad for the environment and what is being done to discourage it.

What is idling?

Idling is the act of leaving a vehicle's engine running while it is stationary.

While this is often the result of traffic, there are some instances, such as waiting for children outside of schools and in traffic jams/long traffic pauses, when idling is not necessary and should be avoided.

Why is idling bad?

Idling increases the amount of exhaust fumes in the air. 

These fumes contain a number of harmful gasses including carbon dioxide, which is bad for the environment and contributes towards climate change, as well as a range of other harmful gasses including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons which are linked to asthma and other lung diseases. 

Diesel vehicles are thought to be one of the biggest contributors to the problem. 

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Can I get a fine for idling?

The issue of engines not being switched off when vehicles are parked is, unbeknownst to many, already an offence.

Rule 123 of The Highway Code looks at ‘The Driver and the Environment’, stating that drivers must not leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road.

Local authorities have the power to issue £20 fixed penalties for emission offences and stationary idling under The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002.

However, it is important to note that this is imposed only if a motorist refuses to switch off their engine off when asked to do so by an authorised person.

What is being done to solve the air quality problem?

In May 2017 the Government published its draft Air Quality Plan which identified numerous ways of tackling nitrogen dioxide emissions, which was met with a mixed reception.

The RAC, however, welcomed a number of the proposals such as encouraging local authorities to improve traffic flow, giving consideration to replacing speed humps with other means to slow vehicles down safely, a very clear focus on the most polluting vehicles such as buses and taxis, and encouraging the cutting of unnecessary engine idling.

According to the Government’s final air quality plan - which also included banning the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles by 2040 - ‘Clean Air Zones’ will play a significant role in addressing the UK’s air pollution problems. 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has also made recommendations about improving road-traffic-related air pollution in which it urges local authorities to consider introducing ‘Clean Air Zones’.

As part of this NICE is encouraging authorities to raise awareness and crack down on idling which may lead to ‘No Idling Zones’ where authorised individuals such as traffic enforcement officers monitor vehicles around schools or busy shopping areas.

Birmingham is the first city, outside of London to put a date against implementing a Clean Air Zone.

RAC roads policy spokesman Nicholas Lyes said: “No idling zones, and the idea that local authorities should think about replacing speed humps which cause motorists to brake and then accelerate again with other safety measures to slow vehicles down, are eminently sensible suggestions.

"Both have the potential to improve the quality of air locally. Empowering town and city planners to consider air quality when it comes to the location and new developments and infrastructure is also critical.

“Whether it is outside schools, picking up relatives from stations, or in a car park, we can all do our bit by switching off our engines and reducing our emissions.

“Research shows 23% of all car journeys are two miles or under, so consider whether you really need to drive, cutting out just a few of these types of car journeys will make a real difference.”

What can I do?

While it may be some time before more councils start getting tough with drivers who idle their engines, schools can now draw attention to the issue themselves by purchasing an RAC School Clean Air Zone banner which urges drivers to ‘show they care about our air’ by turning off their engines.

The banners, which cost £60 including delivery and VAT, are produced for the RAC by Ottimo Digital. The RAC makes no profit from the sale of the banners and Ottimo Digital has agreed to print them at a reduced margin.

Schools interested in buying banners can do so here.

Buy a banner

Advice to stop idling

While it is an offence to be parked with an engine running, in line with The Highway Code which says that ‘if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution’, the RAC has compiled the following advice to encourage motorists to switch off their engines when stuck in traffic.

• Try to consider how long you are going to be stationary in traffic. The RAC recommends that motorists turn off their engines if they think they are not going to move for around two minutes.
• Many modern vehicles have ‘stop-start’ systems fitted that automatically switch off the engine when the vehicle is stationary and restart it as soon as the accelerator is pressed. Manufacturers allow this feature to be manually switched off, however we urge motorists not to do this. There is no risk to your vehicle in allowing this feature to be left on.
• For vehicles without ‘stop-start’ it’s fine to turn off your engine, but you should try to avoid doing this repeatedly in a short space of time. In addition, older vehicles (around eight years old) and vehicles with older batteries (around five years old) may struggle if they are started too often in a short space of time.

Dispelling myths around stopping and starting

• With stop-start systems, don’t worry about the battery not getting charged while the engine is off – the stop-start system will automatically restart the engine to ensure the battery is kept fully charged, even in stationary traffic.
• Switching off your engine in traffic should not adversely affect your fuel economy. However, fuel usage from starting does vary from model to model. Generally, older vehicles – 10 years or older – will use more fuel when starting and may require some accelerator use which will inevitably use some fuel. If a vehicle will start without any use of the accelerator, then try not to use it.

If motorists can start making small changes today it will help to improve air quality for everyone and potentially reduce the likelihood of charges having to be imposed on certain vehicles entering urban areas.

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