Idle engines
Startling statistics have shown that every morning people across Warwickshire are unwittingly damaging their neighbourhoods.
Now that winter has set in residents throughout the county are de-icing their cars before they set off for work and often leave the engine idling to warm up the car.
But research has shown that an idling car engine is 80% more polluting than a car in motion. Stationary cars also take longer to warm up and they blow out cold air.
Warwickshire County Council are recommending that people put a sheet over the windscreen when parking in the evening to save themselves time in the mornings and cut out this pollution.
Legislation in 1998 made it an offence to cause unnecessary emissions by leaving a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily whilst stationary. The offence carries a maximum fine on conviction of £1,000. It is now being proposed that local authorities be allowed to issue £20 fixed penalty notices in relation to any vehicle with an engine running unnecessarily whilst stationary.
Laura Vesty, Sustainable Travel Officer said: “People should bear in mind the pollution that’s caused by leaving their engine running unnecessarily. On really cold days you can see the fumes coming from the exhaust. It’s bad for anyone walking past and has a longer term damaging effect on the environment.”