Newcastle Residents Want Van Operators to Ban Engine Idling

More than half of Newcastle residents (51%) want to see firms make it part of company policy for their van drivers to switch off their engines whilst delivering or not moving in traffic. Only 11% said they disagreed with this, with the rest undecided.

The results, from a survey commissioned by vehicle technology and compliance specialist, HH Driveright, has a strong underlying message for courier companies and organisations operating van fleets, particularly if brand reputation, green credentials and ESG strategies matter to them.

More than four-in-ten (42%) Newcastle residents also said they believe diesel-fuelled vans have a negative impact on air pollution in their local area, affecting the quality of air that they breathe.

HH Driveright believes the time has come for all fleet operators to take action on engine idling and has the technology to help. Its multi-faceted GM 2020 device allows a fleet manager to easily identify instances of engine idling and also see CO2 emission impacts of each vehicle.

Managing director, Rebecca Hall, says, “Leaving engines running in both non-moving traffic and whilst stationary is likely to become of increasing annoyance to what is now a highly environmentally concerned society. It is most definitely a practice at odds with any company that professes to have green credentials. However, it is also a practice that can go under the radar, on the basis of most vans being out of sight and out of mind most of the time, with only the public able to view what is happening on the road.

“The GM2020 offers fleet managers, company directors and shareholders much more visibility, showing how employees are driving across various aspects of driving behaviour. It flags up everything from harsh braking and cornering to speeding and leaving vehicles unlocked. The dashboard reports also include details of all the times that drivers leave the engine idling – the many times a day when they could be damaging the brand reputation in the eyes of environmentally concerned members of the public. It makes it easy for firms to stop this bad habit from occurring.”

The likelihood of drivers engaging in engine idling is enhanced by the fact that nearly a quarter (24%) of people in Newcastle said they do not believe there is any instruction given with regard to this bad habit within the Highway Code. 

The reality is that Rule 123 categorically states that a driver MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running, or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily whilst that vehicle is stationary on a public road.

HH Driveright urges van fleets to ban engine idling and protect both the environment and their reputation. The cost of installing the GM 2020 is negligible – around £10.25 per month (plus initial fitting fee) – whilst the cost to their business, not to mention all the wasted fuel, can be colossal.

To find out more, call the team on 01937 830 144 or head to www.hhdriveright.com      ENDS

Press calls:

Jane Hunt

Catapult PR – 0333 2424062

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Editors notes

The independent research survey was commissioned through Censuswide, in spring 2023, and conducted amongst a demographically representative sample of consumers. We can provide statistics for 16 individual cities and 12 regions, on request, as well as statistic splits by age and gender.

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.