Many lives are shortened each year by exposure to vehicle fumes in London. Locally, our air quality is generally better than inner city areas but this does not stop all of us doing our bit to make sure that we have the cleanest air possible.

The Residents’ Association regularly have complaints of drivers outside schools and stationary taxis and mini-cabs leaving their engines running unnecessarily, often for long periods.

By turning off the engine when stationary, it will help:

• Reduce pollution – turning off and restarting an engine causes less pollution than keeping the engine running.
• Protect health – turning off the engine can help to reduce asthma, heart disease and lung cancer.
• Protect yourself – Recent surveys have revealed that pollution levels are often at their highest inside vehicles, as they draw fumes in through their air vents.
• Save money – idling wastes fuel and money.
• Protect your vehicle– idling can increase wear and tear on the engine.
• Havering Council recently proposed to formally adopt the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) Fixed Penalty (England) Regulations 2002. These regulations state that if a driver is asked to turn their engine off by an authorised officer and refuses, they can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Please give consideration to those around you and don’t be an engine idler!

By Editor on 21st October 2019   /   News   /   Leave a comment