QUIT IDLING

[invisiblepiper]

I think I am turning into an old grump! Recently, when I have seen someone sitting in their car with the engine running, I have had to restrain myself from knocking on the window and advising them to SWITCH OFF THE ENGINE!
I have even considered printing up wee leaflets to pass calmly to the offending drivers.
I know that some areas have bylaws against idling - Glasgow for example, but when you see folk sitting for half an hour , gazing at the sea with their engine running - it really gets my goat!
What can we do?

[Merry]

Stick a spud up their exhaust pipe?

[Rod in Japan]

When I first came to Japan, it used to drive me nuts that so many people idled. It was far more prevalent here than in the UK. Now it seems to have taken off in the UK too.

I did in fact print leaflets in Japanese asking people to turn off their engines, and did knock on windows and politely suggest they switch off. Most did. Some refused. Others got hysterical. Young women thought they were going to get raped.

There are now ads here on TV suggesting people stop idling, and big signs up on road bridges that say "Sutoppu za aidoringu!" (I kid you not). It actually used to make me very unhappy to walk down a street and stop every few yards to knock on a car window. Trying to save the planet all by yourself is very hard work. Perhaps you could approach TV stations, public advertisers, car manufacturers, and local governments and ask them to sponsor ads and signs.

Nowadays I don't pester people unless they happen to be idling somewhere near where I'm going to be a for a while. Then it becomes a matter of my personal health that they stop it.

[Shirley]

I hate to see it too - when I had to collect my son from school the collection point was filled with parents... AND the school bus... IDLING - outside a school. Sometimes for 15 mins or so. Grrrrr.

[Rod in Japan]

Well in that case, the school and board of education would be obvious places to start. This is where one or two people can really make a big difference. Don't grrrrr, get onto it. Good ruck.

[shell]

very rarely i`m guitly of this,but to my defence i have to say its because i was told on many occasions it takes more petrol to start up the car again than to leave it in neutral for a few minutes,wrong info?

[Rod in Japan]

Wrong information. Starting your engine is equivalent to about 5 seconds of idling. So if you plan to park longer than that, it's best to turn off your engine.

[Shirley]

Well in that case, the school and board of education would be obvious places to start. This is where one or two people can really make a big difference. Don't grrrrr, get onto it. Good ruck.

Son has now left and I don't go there anymore... and the parking arrangements have changed too - whether it's made a difference I've no idea. If I see it again I'll do something.

[Rod in Japan]

If the school thing affects other people here, I just found this rather useful PDF provided by the state of Oregon for combating idling at school.

[Thomzo]

If it saves petrol, it must save money as well. With current petrol prices it's hard to imagine why anyone would leave their engine idling for long periods. I switch mine off if I'm stuck in a traffic jam for any length of time. I just keep an eye on the queue in front and when the lorry/van up ahead starts moving, I turn the engine back on.

Perhaps we could turn this into a Ssish campaign? (Maybe we could have a different campaign each year that we can all get involved in if we want to?)

Taxis often park outside my house while they wait to be sent on their next fare. If I had a little leaflet I could pass to them, pointing out how much money they could save, I'd probably never be allowed to take a taxi again. But never mind.

Cheers
Zoe

[StripyPixieSocks]

Yep, we turn our engine off in traffic as well I don't see the point in burning petrol when you're not getting anywhere... I guess some people just have more money than sense.

[eccentric_emma]

There is a guy behind our house who does this with his motorbike, the longest has been for about 45minutes when he was having a chat with somebody else! It was so loud. But of course, being stereotypically British, I just grumbled a lot and slammed my windows shut. Humph.

Would be nice to see an ad campaign or something. I don't have the guts to go handing out leaflets to offending drivers!

[invisiblepiper]

It woul;d be good to design a leaflet - a more explanatory one perhaps - to get the message across?

[Thomzo]

This is actually quite topical. See this
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/arti ... -jams.html

Motorists could face £20 spot fines if they leave their engines running while stuck in traffic.

Traffic wardens will be able to issue the penalties - after a warning - in a bid to cut down on pollution.

A pilot scheme is due to be launched in January in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, and will be expanded if it proves successful. West Sussex Council said it would target areas where exhaust emissions build up unnecessarily, such as rail crossings and town centres.

Unfortunately, the threat of fines has irritated people and the AA have come out against the idea. However they did come up with this useful comment:

'For less than a minute it is not fuel efficient to switch off because you will use more fuel starting up than you will save. It only becomes fuel efficient to switch off if you are going to be stopped for a minute or more.'

Apparently, in the UK, the Highway code also has some advice:

Rule 123 of the Highway Code says: 'If the vehicle is stationary and likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should switch off the engine to reduce emissions and oil pollution.

I've had some ideas about a campaign if anyone's interested. Will start a separate thread.

Cheers
Zoe

[prison break fan]

I was very embarrassed the other day whilst waiting at a level crossing to have a man walk past my car and make a key turning motion at me! Message recieved!! pbf