Why is idling of vehicles a problem?
Vehicle exhaust is hazardous to human health, especially children.
Studies have linked pollution from vehicles to increased rates of cancer, heart and lung disease, asthma and allergies.- Idling wastes resources and damages the environment.
Burning fuel needlessly costs you money and contributes to air pollution problems. - Idling vehicles can be easily stolen or can cause damage if accidentally engaged.
- Today’s cars do not need to be warmed up, except in extremely cold conditions (below 0° F).
In fact, for modern engines, idling can actually be harder on the engine than driving down the road.
Idling Facts
(Source: Office of Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources Canada)- Idling for more than 10 seconds actually uses more fuel than restarting the engine.
- Tests show no more than 30 seconds is needed to circulate engine oil.
- The best way to warm up your vehicle is to drive it.
- Idling can actually damage engines because it is operating not at peak (or high) operating temperatures. It causes incomplete combusions and more harmful pollutants to be released into the air. Fuel residues also form and contaminate engine oil and damage engine parts. In addition, water can condense in vehicle’s exhaust.
- Modern vehicles don’t require any idling to warm them up.
Also
- Idling for more than 3 minutes is against the law in Bloomfield and all of New Jersey, with fines of $250 or more for a first offense.
Health Impacts
- Vehicle related air pollution can cause asthma and other respiratory problems and allergies, especially in children who breathe at a faster rate than adults. Air toxics also contribute to heart disease and attacks, as well as higher cancer rates in high traffic areas (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
- Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15 (Source: American Lung Association).
- Up to 25% of NJ’s school age children are asthmatic-the leading cause of school absenteeism and increased visits to the emergency room on hot summer days (Source: NJ Department of Environmental Protection).
- Diesel vehicles emit numerous cancer causing chemicals, including benzene and formaldehyde; all vehicle gas emissions account for as many as half of all cancers attributed to outdoor air pollution (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
- New Jersey is second in the U.S. in cancer risk from diesel soot emissions (US EPA), and diesel exhaust is the leading source of hazardous air pollution in New Jersey. (NJDEP)
What You Can Do
- Take action and stop idling!
- Sign the Parents No Idling Pledge
- Tell your family, friends, neighbors and school bus drivers to stop idling.
- Report diesel vehicles idling more than 3 minutes by calling (877) WARNDEP.
- Encourage your school district to sign the School District No Idling Pledge.
Resources
Feel free to print and distribute these handouts and brochures!
- Stop Idling! (4-on-a-page handout you can give to people you see idling)
- Idling…What’s the problem?
- Diesel School Buses and Children’s Health: What You Need to Know
Bloomfield Anti-Idling Ordinance
Map of suspected frequent idling
For more information, see www.StopTheSoot.org.