Plea for drivers to stop choking our children with needless fumes

Stop choking our children by leaving your engine running.

That’s the message from Canterbury City Council as temperatures drop and the temptation for drivers to keep their engines on to heat their cars increases, especially on the school run.

Motorists can be issued with a £20 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) if they ignore a request from a Canterbury City Council Enforcement Officer to switch off their engine while stationary.

The rules apply to all vehicles including cars, taxis, buses and commercial vehicles such as lorries.

The fine increases to £40 if it isn’t paid within 28 days.

Cllr Mel Dawkins, the council’s Cabinet Member for Climate and the Environment, said: “While I understand the desire to stay warm in the winter months, leaving your engine running is pumping unnecessary pollution into the air, adversely affects the health of children and vulnerable people and costs drivers money in terms of very expensive diesel and petrol.

“Parents and others waiting for their children outside the school gates with their engines on do not seem to realise the harm they are causing.

“My other gripe are those drivers who sit at the district’s level crossings with their engines on, needlessly spewing out fumes that those around them are then forced to breathe, especially pedestrians and cyclists waiting for the train to go past, residents in nearby properties, children and families.

“It is not that hard to switch your engine off and then back on again.”

Cllr Dawkins also gives short shrift to the mountain of myths motorists peddle in order to switch off their engines.

She said: “People need to understand the hard facts – starting an engine does not cause more pollution than leaving it running, turning an engine off and restarting it after a minute or longer causes less pollution than keeping the engine idling and uses less fuel while causing less wear and tear.

“Many newer cars have this built-in as a feature which demonstrates that it is possible to do this without affecting your car.

“On top of that, modern car batteries don’t need the engine on constantly to keep them charged, catalytic convertors keep warm for 25 minutes after an engine is turned off so idling engines have no effect and it can take an hour for an engine to cool enough to stop warm air coming through the heating system.

“All of these are lame excuses for people who are determined not to do the right thing.

“In contrast, the vast majority of motorists use their common sense, follow the rules and are considerate when it comes to the harmful impacts idling has to those around them.”

Published: 22 November 2024