Be a Stop Idol campaign
We want to make an effective and lasting positive impact on Runnymede’s air quality whilst helping to reduce local emissions for future generations. To support this, Runnymede Borough Council is launching the ‘Be a Stop Idol’ anti-idling campaign as part of our Climate Change Communications Plan 2024-2025
We will be raising awareness of the negative, yet entirely avoidable, financial, health, and environmental impacts caused by idling behaviour and are asking you to pledge to become a Stop Idol As a Stop Idol, you will be setting an example for others by turning off your engines when stationary for extended periods and acting as a role model within the community.
What is idling?
Idling occurs when drivers keep their vehicle engines running when stationary for an extended period, typically more than 30 seconds. This may happen when drivers are in traffic, stopped at a level crossing, or waiting to pick someone up.
What are the impacts of idling?
Idling produces several damaging, yet entirely avoidable, consequences. These include:
- Contributing to local air pollution, with idling for just 30 seconds producing twice as much pollution compared with turning your engine off and on again exposing you and others around you to the fumes.
- Adding climate change driving greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere which could be avoided by simply turning off an engine when stationary.
- Burning fuel while drivers go nowhere, costing up to 3p per minute, or as much as £58 if idling for 10 minutes per day over a 6-month period
Anti-Idling: Debunking some common myths
| Myth | Truth |
|---|---|
| I need to keep my engine running to keep the car warm during cold weather | Switching off the engine but keeping the ignition on should keep the heater warm for around 30 minutes, while saving you money and reducing pollution |
| If I’m parked on a yellow line with my engine running, I can’t be fined | You can be fined for parking somewhere you are not supposed to be, whether your engine is running or not |
| But doesn’t stopping and starting wear out the engine? | This is no longer an issue with modern engines, and by not idling you will reduce your fuel costs |
| Idling does not contribute very much to air pollution when considering other sources | At a local level, it has been shown that reducing idling behaviour by switching off engines while stationary has a positive impact on pollution levels |
| If I’m inside my car, I’m protected from the pollution caused by other idling vehicles | The air quality inside your car is likely to be worse than outside where pollution is dispersed, which is why acting as a role model and encouraging others to switch off their engines when stationary is so important |
What are the Council going to do?
Runnymede Borough Council will be raising awareness of the negative, yet entirely avoidable, financial, health, and environmental impacts caused by idling behaviour, and debunking some common myths around idling behaviour. Our Climate Change Communications Plan 2024-2025 shows that there will be a specific focus on working with primary schools on this campaign and improving our signage at or close to level crossings where possible.
We have chosen these specific areas to focus on as research has shown that young people are particularly susceptible to the health impacts of idling behaviour and idling outside schools can be a frequent problem. In Runnymede, there are six level crossings which can be down for long periods of time. By improving our signage where possible and highlighting the range of negative impacts associated with idling, we hope to encourage more drivers to switch off when stationary.
What we are asking of Runnymede drivers
We are calling on Runnymede drivers to pledge to become a Stop Idol As a Stop Idol, you will be setting an example for others by turning off your engines when stationary for more than 30 seconds and acting as a role model within the community. This will reduce local pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and save you money.
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