Time to switch off?
Engine idling is when you leave your car engine running when you are not moving. This is bad for the air and our health – especially for children, who are closer to car exhausts. It also wastes money and fuel.
Some cars now have Stop-Start technology which turns the engine off when the car is not moving, but many don’t. That’s why it’s so important that we take action.
Why engine idling is bad for the air
Cars that burn petrol or diesel make smoke and gas that come out of their exhausts. These emissions pollute the air and make it unhealthy. They can cause problems for our hearts and lungs.
When the air is polluted, it can affect everyone. But some people are more at risk, like children and old people. Children are closer to the exhausts, so they breathe in more emissions. This can harm their brains and lungs as they grow.
When your car engine is idling, the emissions stay near your car. This means you and the people around you breathe in more dirty air. Idling cars make as much or more emissions than moving cars.
We want to help you and your community breathe cleaner air. That’s why we ask you to switch off your engine when you are not moving for more than a minute.
Why engine idling is bad for your pocket
Idling engines are wasteful because the car is using fuel without moving. That’s money draining out of your exhaust. Research shows that idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and makes more emissions than restarting your engine.
Idling can also damage your car engine over time. It can build up carbon in your engine, which makes it work less well and wear out faster.
The law and engine idling
The law says you should not leave your car engine running when you are not moving. Not switching your engine off when asked to do so can lead to a fine of £20, increasing to £40.
What we are doing
We want to let everyone know about the impacts of engine idling. We want to help you understand why it is bad and how you can stop it.
We have council officers who check for idling cars on the roads. They will ask the drivers to switch off their engines if they are not moving. They can also give fines to drivers who refuse to switch off without a good reason.
What you can do
You can help us make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone. Here are some things you can do:
- switch off your engine when you are not moving for more than a minute (e.g. when you are waiting outside a school or shops
- tell other people why they should switch off their engines too
- spread the word and help your community breathe better
Thank you for your cooperation and support!
Exceptions
There are some circumstances where running your engine while you are stationary is acceptable. Examples of this are:
- Where there are extreme temperatures outside the vehicle and heating or cooling is essential to protect vulnerable passengers
- Where a vehicle needs to run the engine to power equipment – a wheelchair lift for example
Myth-busting
Idling doesn’t put out a lot of pollution.
Fact: an idling vehicle engine can produce up to twice as much exhaust emission per minute as a vehicle engine in motion.
It is better to be inside an idling car than outside.
Fact: The air quality inside the car can be twice as bad as outside, and is even worse in Winter, because the emissions don’t dissipate as easily while stationary.
Leaving your car running is cheaper than turning it off and on again.
Fact: It is cheaper to turn off your engine: 10% to 15% of fuel usage occurs whilst idling. This is why stop-start technology was introduced.
I need to keep the engine running to keep the heater on.
Fact: If you switch the engine off, but leave the ignition on, the heater will stay warm for around 15 minutes.
The best way to warm up a vehicle is to leave the engine running for a few minutes.
Fact: Modern engines do not need a lead-in time to warm up before use.
If parked on a yellow line, keeping my engine running means I won't get a parking fine.