Yorkshire-based vehicle security and technology specialist, HH Driveright, is urging parents and other drivers to be part of the solution and not the pollution, by getting behind its first Idling Awareness Day (May 17, 2023).
This day has already helped to bring the issues surrounding engine idling into sharp focus and highlighted the dangers to children’s health, but much more needs to be done, to change bad and ingrained driving habits.
HH Driveright has commissioned consumer research[i] that highlights how widespread the practice of engine idling is but which also highlights how you could be judged as a parent, if you carry on engine idling outside a school.
38% of drivers say they never turn their engine off unless parked up, burning fuel and generating unnecessary emissions on many occasions during their journeys on the road.
Yet, 54% of people say they view this as irresponsible behaviour when dropping off or picking up children outside schools, with this rising to 65% amongst those aged over 55.
24% of people have no idea that the Highway Code prohibits engine idling when stationary and 35% think it will take fines of £500 or more to stop engine idling by the roadside.
To help schools make parents more aware of why engine idling is so harmful and expensive a habit, in terms of CO2emissions and fuel costs, HH Driveright has created some special videos, which it has put on its website and shared with local schools around Garforth.
This has been done on the back of further research findings that show that 52% of people (54% in Yorkshire and Humberside) are worried about the impacts of air pollution on children’s health. The team have also been working in other ways with local schools.
Similarly, they have created more awareness videos, targeted at parents and motorists, which convey the message that engine idling is bad for health, the environment and the pocket. Special stickers have also been sent out to customers, to try to raise awareness on the road.
Managing director, Rebecca Hall, says, “We developed our GM2020 technology with functionality that identifies both engine idling and CO2 emissions, with very good reason. We want to retrain many drivers and make them think about their impacts on the road, recognising that some of these are totally unnecessary, because they could be switching off their engines at times and only restarting when the traffic, or their vehicle, is again moving.
“Our message to drivers and fleets across the UK is clear. Be part of the solution, not the pollution.”
[i] Commissioned through Censuswide and assessing the opinions of 1000 consumers, in late April 2023.
