Vehicle security and compliance technology specialist HH Driveright has founded an Idling Awareness Day to spearhead the fight against engine idling.

Credit: HH Driveright

The inaugural event will take place on 17 May 2023 in a move to raise awareness of engine idling – unnecessarily keeping a vehicle engine running when stationary on the road – and the unnecessary emissions it causes.

Data from the Royal College of Physicians indicates that around 40,000 premature deaths and 20,200 hospital admissions could be attributed to air pollution every year in the UK – and engine idling is a contributor to this.

Not only is it a health hazard but it’s also illegal and local authorities have the power to issue £20 fixed penalties for engine idling if a motorist refuses to switch off their engine.

Despite this, research by vehicle security and technology solutions provider HH Driveright has found 49% of people do not know what ‘engine idling’ is, even with campaigns in cities such as London, where air pollution is rife, urging drivers to stop the bad habit.

Most respondents also didn’t know or didn’t believe that it’s prohibited by rule 123 of the Highway Code. This states that drivers must not leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary on a public road.

The new Idling Awareness Day – with a message of ‘Make engine idling a turn-off’ – will put idling in the spotlight. It aims to highlight the impact that idling drivers cause to both the environment and their own fuel bill.

HH Driveright managing director Rebecca Hall said: “We are somewhat shocked to find so many people are unaware what engine idling is and just how many do not believe the Highway Code mentions it. Our calculations show that engine idling for just an hour a day, in one diesel vehicle, can create 3,100.5kg of CO2 a year and waste £2,047.50 of fuel. It makes no sense not to address engine idling and get out of the bad habit of doing it.

“It is also clear from our research that we cannot expect a fine of just £20, handed out only if the driver refuses to turn their engine off, to have any impact on this poor driving behaviour. We need to educate drivers first and foremost, make them aware of the environmental and financial impacts of engine idling and increase the penalty for those who unnecessarily continue to keep engines running when there is no need to do so.”

Fleet vehicles, mostly running on particularly harmful diesel, are a particular focus for HH Driveright, which has the technology to identify engine idling, amongst other bad driving behaviours, through its GM2020 device. Fleet managers can take a very easy step – making it a company policy to not engage in engine idling – and, by using their GM2020 dashboards, see whether or not drivers are adhering to this instruction.

The company is also urging councils and motoring bodies to get behind the awareness day and help increase knowledge of engine idling and its impact.

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