To Idle or not to Idle

Jan 26 2012

Whether you drive an old wreck financed with a cheap auto loan or the latest SUV, there is no way to escape the increasing traffic congestion in our cities.  In the process millions of litres of fuel go to waste every year.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has now encouraged Londoners to turn off their vehicles’ engines whenever they are stuck in traffic jams and they have not been moving for more than 60 seconds.  This also goes for when they are making pick-ups or drop-offs.

Mayor Johnson is trying to clean up London for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  According to Transport for London, the “no engine idling” campaign will help to reduce CO2 emission levels in the city.

Transport for London says it has conducted studies to see whether there is any detrimental effect on a vehicle’s battery if it is switched on and off repeatedly.  According to the findings there is no discernible effect.  The test vehicles were, in fact, switched on and off repeatedly more than 100 times during the course of an hour, and battery performance was not hampered in any way.

The campaign also looks at the benefit to Londoners’ health if pollution levels can be reduced.  A reduction in CO2 emission levels will help prevent many lung and heart conditions and also help asthma sufferers.

Not only passenger cars are encouraged to eliminate unnecessary idling.  This also applies to coaches, taxis and bus drivers.  London’s famous black cabs account for nearly 25% of all PM10 emissions in the centre of the city.
 

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