Four reasons why you should turn off your engine when parked

Many people tend to leave their engines running unnecessarily. Maybe you’re waiting to pick someone up, or you’re in stand-still traffic – you may think nothing of leaving the car running. Unfortunately the reality is that this can have many detrimental effects. Something as simple as switching it off could reduce emissions and save you money, amongst other things. We’ve put together a quick summary below to help you see the benefits.

Environmental impact

Did you know that an idle engine can produce up to twice the exhaust emissions than a vehicle in motion? Contrary to what you may believe, vehicles actually use more fuel and give off more harmful emissions when idle, as they aren't able to operate as efficiently. This increase of CO2 causes more heat to get trapped in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. The impacts of climate change on our planet are huge, so it’s important to do your bit and switch off your engine whenever it makes sense to.

Potential health issues

Leaving your engine idle can also have serious impacts on people’s health, particularly in built-up areas like towns or cities. Alongside CO2, vehicles emit carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbons which are linked to cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. When you’re parked and leave your engine running, these harmful gases have nowhere to go, instead directly polluting the air in the area you’re parked in.

Save your fuel

In our current economic climate, it’s important to save every penny that you can. Fuel prices have been increasing hugely recently – the price per litre has varied quite significantly even on a month-by-month basis. With a recession predicted for 2023, many people are struggling to pay for basic necessities. You might recognise that driving somewhere instead of walking will cost you money, but do you think about the extra money you’re burning if you leave your engine running when you’ve stopped? Switching it off instead can make a real difference over time.

Engine idling is illegal

In the UK and many other countries, engine idling is illegal. Many people may not be aware of this, but the truth is you can be fined if you’re caught. It clearly states in Rule 123 of the Highway Code that “you MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road.” “Must not” implies a legal requirement – it is not optional.

Switching off your engine when it’s not in use is a small change, but it can have many impacts on the world around you. You’ll be helping the environment, reducing health issues and saving money. With the cost of running an idle engine estimated to be 3p per minute, it soon adds up.

It’s a common belief that turning the engine off and on again is worse – both for the environment and the vehicle – but now that technology has advanced so much, this is no longer the case. The next time you drive, try to be more aware of any sensible opportunities to turn off your engine.

This is a guest post by Leo Clarke, Content Producer and Researcher leoclarke.consulting@gmail.com