Time to Judge Engine Idlers?

Ahead of its very first Idling Awareness Day, on May 17, which falls within Walk to School Week, vehicle security and technology specialist, HH Driveright, is turning the spotlight on air quality and children’s health and asking drivers to be part of the solution, not the pollution.

Many children will be walking to and from school alongside vehicles standing still in morning rush hour or after-school traffic, but with their engines still running. They and other pedestrians, as well as cyclists, outdoor workers, people waiting at bus stops and others, will be breathing in noxious fumes being pumped into the atmosphere totally unnecessarily.

Yet despite the proven impacts of air pollution on health, and it being a major source of both respiratory issues and morbidity, only 52% of consumers told an HH Driveright survey, commissioned through independent research company Censuswide, that they were worried about the impacts of air pollution on children’s health.

This fell to just 46% of men (compared to 57% of women). Most concerned were adults aged 18-24 (59%) whilst only 42% of 35-44-year-olds said they were worried.

There were sharp regional differences. Six-in-ten people (60%) expressed concern in the North West, contrasted to 41% in Northern Ireland and 44% in the North East. Most concerned cities were Edinburgh (63%), Manchester and Southampton (62%) and Birmingham (57%). Least concerned were Brighton (32%), Glasgow (39%) and Newcastle (42%).

With various schools having run anti engine idling campaigns, HH Driveright also looked at attitudes towards parents leaving engines running whilst picking up or dropping off children.

54% of interviewees viewed this as irresponsible behaviour (50% of men and 57% of women), with the age group finding it most irresponsible being the over-55s (65%).

Engine idling parents are likely to be judged most harshly in the South West (67% finding it irresponsible). This is followed by Wales and the East Midlands (62%). In Greater London, however, it is only 45%. Notably, in Manchester, where 62% are worried about air quality’s impacts on children’s health, only 46% thought engine idling irresponsible.

The chances of this behaviour occurring outside schools nationwide is high. 38% of interviewees told the survey that they, or the driver in their household, never turn their engine off unless parked up. This rises to 54% of drivers in the North East and 52% in Wales, with Newcastle, Cardiff and Liverpool being the cities in which this behaviour is most common (53%). Those least likely to have their engines running all the time whilst on the road, are people living in Scotland, London and the South West (33%).

HH Driveright, which can help combat engine idling through the use of its multi-feature GM 2020 device – an affordable and hugely useful asset for fleet managers – is urging drivers to start to change their behaviour and stop engine idling. It is also putting a plea out to parents and asking them to stop, think about children’s health, and switch off.

Ahead of Idling Awareness Day, its managing director, Rebecca Hall, says, “Engine idling isn’t necessary and is causing profound environmental damage and health impacts. At a practical level, it wastes the fuel of those drivers who do not switch engines off when stationary. It is prohibited by the Highway Code and can lead to a fine. However, this is not a deterrent. We all need to actively decide to change our engrained driving behaviour and vow not to do it. Idling Awareness Day could be day one of that changed behaviour for some.”

More information about Idling Awareness Day can be found at https://www.hhdriveright.com/idling-awareness-day/

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Editors notes

HH Driveright is an award-winning vehicle security and compliance specialist, with exciting and advanced solutions for van drivers, caravan owners and car drivers wishing to protect their vehicles, livelihood and reputation. It won the 'Keeping Your Show on the Road' award at the 2022 Logistics UK Van Awards and is continually finding ways to achieve that goal, to keep vehicles and their drivers or owners safe and protected.