Petrol and diesel motorists could soon see more expensive fines for breaking Highway Code rule
Experts have called on a major UK city to introduce harsher punishments for motorists who leave their engines idling.
Scottish Greens councillor Blair Anderson described the level of enforcement as “minuscule”, with only a small number of council staff currently able to issue £20 fines.
He suggested empowering parking wardens to issue tickets, saying it would be “preferable if parking wardens could walk down the street and issue tickets”.
Anderson is urging the Scottish Government to grant councils more powers to tackle the issue of drivers causing unnecessary pollution.
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Glasgow City Council has committed to discussing vehicle idling enforcement with the Scottish Government as part of its 2024 Air Quality Action Plan.
Additionally, Environmental Standards Scotland has requested evidence from all councils regarding their vehicle idling policies and enforcement practices.
A Council officer said: “We will respond to them and include facts from public health colleagues responsible for the enforcement aspect of that.”
The Highway Code provides clear guidance on vehicle idling in the UK. It states that drivers “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”.
Rule 123 advises switching off the engine if a vehicle is likely to remain stationary for more than a couple of minutes. This aims to reduce emissions and noise pollution.
However, there are exceptions. Drivers may keep engines running when stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults.
These rules underscore the importance of reducing unnecessary emissions in urban areas, aligning with Glasgow’s efforts to improve air quality and enforce idling regulations more effectively.
The City of London Corporation takes a firm stance on vehicle idling, with motorists urged to switch off their engines when parked or stationary for more than a minute to protect health and reduce air pollution.
Drivers can be slapped with a Fixed Penalty Notice of £20, increasing to £40 if not paid within 28 days or a Penalty Charge Notice of £40, rising to £80 if unpaid after 14 days.
These measures target unnecessary emissions of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter from idling vehicles.
London’s stricter enforcement and higher fines could serve as a model for Glasgow as it considers toughening its own idling regulations to improve air quality.
Climate activists have consistently called for more to be done to crack down on drivers who leave their engines idling when they are not travelling.
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Signs and other measures can consistently be seen near schools where parents will often leave the engine on when waiting for their children to get in the vehicle.
These signs normally inform drivers about the risks they pose to young children when allowing their vehicles to idle, as well as the potential fines they could face.