Idling

Idling is a frustrating and unnecessary source of air pollution. Many people in our network have repeatedly witnessed it happening outside schools, in town centres, playgrounds and at hospitals. As well as the increase in localised air pollution, leaving an engine idling wastes fuel and money.

One minute of idling produces enough emissions to fill 150 balloons, and five minutes produces enough to fill 23 shipping containers.

Letter to councils

Mums for Lungs wrote to 18 councils across London in 2019 asking them to do more to use parking enforcement solutions to tackle idling. This was a joint letter with 23 community groups, signed by over 400 people.

Our idling flyer

In order to raise awareness about why idling is so problematic, many of our members have been approaching idling drivers at the kerbside and outside schools. We give them a flyer, speak to them in a friendly manner to ask if they’re about to move off and if they’re not, explain the damage idling can do. We’ve co-ordinated with a number of schools to hand out idling letters in the children’s school bags, or send them out digitally with newsletters.

You can download our idling flyer below, or head to the Resources page to order some printed versions to be sent out to you.