No Idling
WHAT IS IDLING?
Running an engine unnecessarily when a vehicle is stopped or parked.
You likely see idling in your town when people sit in their vehicles with their engines running while they:
- text or talk on their phones;
- wait for a companion who is doing grocery shopping or banking or on a long line at the post office;
- wait for a child at school dismissal times;
- chat with a friend who is inside or outside their vehicle;
- wait in line at a fast food, pharmacy, bank or coffee drive thru;
- wait for engine to "warm up" or heat or air conditioning to kick in.
WHY IS IDLING A PROBLEM?
Car exhaust contains nitrogen oxides (Nox), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Idling vehicles needlessly emit these dangerous pollutants into our air where they effect our environment and our health.
According to a recent study by Vanderbilt University, the CO2 emissions associated with idling account for roughly 1.6 percent of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency has reported that monitoring at schools has shown elevated levels of benzyne, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and other air toxics during the afternoon hour when parents pick up their children.
The highest risk group during the coronavirus pandemic included people who suffer from lung disease and asthma, conditions that can be made worse by moderate to heavy air pollution.
MORE FACTS ABOUT THE DANGERS CAUSED BY IDLING:
- Idling produces more emissions per minute than driving
- Idling your vehicle with the air conditioning on can increase emissions by 13 percent
- In the United States, idling vehicles consume about 3 billion gallons of fuel annually that produces about 30 million tons of CO2.
IN ADDITION TO ENDANGERING OUR HEALTH, IDLING ALSO WASTES FUEL AND YOUR HARD-EARNED DOLLARS
- An idling car is the least efficient car on the road – it gets zero miles per gallon.
- Thirty seconds of idling can use more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it. If you are stopped for more than 30 seconds – except in traffic – turn off your engine!
- Driving cuts warm-up time in half. It reduces fuel consumption, too.
- Restarting a car many times has little impact on engine components such as a battery and the starter motor. The wear on parts that restarting an engine causes adds about $7 a year to the cost of driving – money you’ll likely recover several times over in fuel savings.
- Most people waste 1-2 entire tankfuls of gas every year by idling.
IF YOU ARE A LOCAL BUSINESS, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY OF THESE SIGNS TO PLACE AROUND YOUR BUSINESSES (AT NO COST TO YOU)
Our thanks to the following local businesses that have posted a sign to
create an Idle Free Zone:
- Ukiah Natural Foods
- Westside Renaissance Market
- Express Mart
- Mendocino Book Company
- Honeyfluff
- Whispering Winds Nursery
Please join them in this effort.
CLIMATE ACTION MENDOCINO IS ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM LOCALLY. WE HAVE:
- Given a power point demonstration to several local service organizations to educate about the dangers and ways to stop idling
- Spoken several times at meetings of the Ukiah Unified School District Board of Trustees regarding the danger of many vehicles idling at our local schools when parents and guardians pick up children at dismissal time. As a result, the District placed “No Idling” signs on school grounds and urged drivers to turn off their cars while waiting. (Unfortunately, this problem persists. The solution: able-bodied parents can park, turn off their vehicles and walk a block or two to greet their children.)
- Applied for grants to purchase air quality meters and work with middle and high school students to measure air quality outside their schools (once in-person school resumes)
- Given out literature and talk to drivers in idling vehicles in a polite and safe manner
- Spoke to local business about reducing or eliminating idling in front of their businesses and give out no-costs sign to place in windows
- Strategized with other organizations about introducing local ordinances banning or reducing idling
- Contacted corporate-owned drive-thrus regarding the health problems created by lines of idling vehicles
WHAT YOU CAN DO (IF YOU ARE A LIGHT DUTY VEHICLE OWNER):
- Turn your engine off if you are parked at a store, school or using your phone for more than 10 seconds
- Roll down windows to cool down instead of idling to run the air conditioning
- Park, turn off your engine and walk to your child’s school dismissal area. You’ll get some exercise, share a lovely greeting with your child and not emit dangerous toxic chemicals
- Avoid drive-thrus: park the car and walk inside instead.
- Avoid using a remote vehicle starter, which encourages unnecessary idling.
- If you are able, considering purchasing a hybrid/electric vehicle, which limit idling at traffic stops.
- Speak to your child’s school principal, school board members, City Council member or County supervisor about regulation of idling vehicles
- Politely and diplomatically hand out fliers or approach idling drivers about your concerns.
You can find free handouts to download at:
For an informative and entertaining video regarding idling, see:
