Idling Vehicles

Quick Jumps:

• Effects of Pollution
• What You Can Do

Don't stay idle - take action

Have you ever left your vehicle idling for more than 10 seconds while waiting to pick up your child at school or at the drive-up window at the bank?

Most of us have. Here are some good reasons to rethink this common habit:

Effects of Pollution

• Vehicle exhaust is one of the leading sources of air pollution in Utah

While sitting in an idling vehicle, drivers are exposed to higher levels of vehicle pollution than when the vehicle is in motion because exhaust enters the cabin. Emissions from vehicles contain Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) whcih are prime ingredients to form Ozone and Particulate Matter (PM). They are both a major source of air pollution in Utah. Like driving, idling releases emissions into the air, but unlike driving, idling is uneccesary.

• Vehicle exhaust is hazardous to human health, especially children's.

Children's asthma symptoms increase as a result of car exhaust. Studies have linked pollution from vehicles to increased rates of cancer, heart and lung disease, and asthma. Exposure to most vehicle exhaust is much higher inside vehicles than at the roadside. Children, whose lungs are still developing, breathe more rapidly and inhale more pollutants per pound of body weight than adults. Asthma is the leading casue of hospitalizations for children under the age of 15.

• Vehicle idling is expensive and hard on your engine.

Turning off your engine, rather than idling more than 10 seconds improves air quality and saves fuel, too.

• More than 10 seconds of idling consumes more fuel than restarting your engine.
• 1 hour of idling burns about 1 gallon of gasoline and gets 0 miles per gallon.
• An idling engine isn't working at ideal operating temperature (since your vehicle is not moving when idling), and doesn't undego complete combustion.
• This can decrease the life of your engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and exhaust systems.
• Frequent restarting of a vehicle has little impact on engine components such as the battery and starter motor.

Here's What You Can Do:

• Turn it off after 10 seconds - if you are going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds (except in traffic), turn off your engine.
• Reduce warm-up idling - Today's modern engine needs no more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days before driving. Driving is the best way to warm it up.
• Spread the word - Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors about the benefits of reduced idling. Encourage them to join you in protecting the environment, contributing to a healthier community, and saving money.