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Parental Vehicle Idling

Vehicle idling by parents can be a common problem at schools, both before and after school. Teachers and students can be affected by the emissions from vehicles visiting the school when the engines are not turned off. The greatest idling times are usually observed during dismissal times, when parents and care givers arrive to pick up students.

To understand why it is important to reduce vehicle emissions, especially in a school setting, it is interesting to note that:

• Vehicle emissions are the largest contributors to outdoor air pollution.
• One in five New Brunswickers suffers from respiratory ailments.
• Because of their size, children are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution than adults.
• No more than 30 seconds of idling is needed on winter days to circulate oil through an engine. Once a vehicle is running, the best way to warm it up is to drive it. Many components of a vehicle, including wheel bearings, tires and suspension system warm up only when the vehicle is moving.
• Driving a vehicle cuts warm-up times in half. At -20C, the average engine needs at least five kilometers of driving to fully warm up. Avoid high speeds and rapid acceleration to allow the whole vehicle to reach peak operating temperature as quickly as possible without wasting fuel.

Background

The use of vehicles results in major impacts to the environment and to human health. Every year, more than half of the Canadian population is regularly exposed to smog, which is unacceptable for human health. For individuals who are considered "at risk" (our young, old, and those already suffering from respiratory diseases, ie. asthma, emphysema, chronic and bronchitis), ozone levels pose significant additional threats to their existing health. Moreover, Canada’s population is growing and the number of vehicle-kilometres driven is also increasing.

The combustion of fossil fuels releases a number of air pollutants into the air that are detrimental to health. These include sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO) and toxics such as mercury. Besides direct effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health, some of these chemicals also combine in the atmosphere to produce acid rain, ground-level ozone and smog.

As well, fossil fuels are a major contributor to atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 ) levels, one of the most important greenhouse gases affecting climate change. Most scientist agree that climate change will have a significant effect on human and ecosystem health over the next century.

What You Can Do

If there is a concern that idling might be a problem at your school, observations should be carried out over several days, to determine if, in fact, there is a problem.

Make observations at your school, by tabulating the cars coming into the parking lot, the arrival times, whether or not they are idling, and the departure times. *(see Parental Vehicle Checklist)

• Have volunteers and/or parents (students can participate if age appropriate) stationed at locations where they will be safe and able to clearly view the vehicles.
• Produce an information pamphlet for distribution to motorists. *
• At a later date, make observations and approach motorists that are idling. Explain the benefits of not idling and give them the pamphlet. Ask them if they have any questions about the initiative. If not, ask them to make a commitment to turn their engines off (spring, summer and fall), and/or reduce their arrival times at the school (winter). Also, ask them to attach an anti-idling windshield sticker to their vehicle to confirm their commitment.
• Post "No Idling" signs in parking areas to remind motorists to turn off their engines. (It is important to note that signs alone are not be enough to see a significant change in idling.)
• In winter, idling is sometimes unavoidable, but parents can reduce their idling time by reducing their arrival time at school.
• At home, use a timer to switch on your block heater one to two hours before you plan to drive. A warm engine means easier starting, fewer emissions, and less need for idling.
• Avoid using a remote car starter. It encourages you to start your car before you are ready to drive, which means unnecessary idling.

Parents turn engines off when they arrive at the school to pick up their children.

Parents wait 2-3 minutes before turning off their engines when they arrive at the school.

Parents leave their engines running in excess of 5 minutes while waiting for their children.

 

*Also available through the New Brunswick Lung Association.

 

Resources and Links

Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN)
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/personal/idling.cfm?attr=8

http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/communities-government/transportation/municipal-communities/schools.cfm?attr=8

Pembina Institute (Climate Change Solutions)
www.climatechangesolutions.com

Environmental protection Agency
www.epa.gov/otaq/actions.htm

Idling Activity, click here