Engine idling

Time to switch off

If you drive a vehicle, one way you can save money on fuel (as well as helping improve air quality) is to be aware of engine idling - this is when you leave your car engine running when you are not moving.

While your engine is running, your exhaust is pumping out up to 100 balloons-worth of harmful gases every minute, and when you’re stationary, those gases hang around your car to be breathed in by you, your passengers, and those nearby. Poor air quality has a number of impacts on health, and particularly affects the young, the old and the vulnerable. You’re also wasting fuel without moving.

 So what can you do about this?

Firstly, be aware that unnecessary engine idling is an offence under the Road Traffic Act and could earn you a fine in the form of a Fixed Penalty Notice. You can use your car’s stop-start technology if it has it. Research has shown that for most cars, if you are going to be stationary for more than 10 seconds, it’s going to take less fuel to restart the engine than to keep it running.

For more information about Central Bedfordshire Council’s engine idling campaign, go to Engine idling