Vehicle Idling
When you go about your daily routine do you ever notice vehicles idling (when a vehicle is on, but not moving)? It could be passenger cars, buses, or diesel trucks; but almost everyone sees someone idling a vehicle on a daily basis. Just this morning I saw a car idling with no one in it when I dropped my daughter off at daycare. The parent had gone inside to drop their child off and left the car running, spewing harmful emissions, right next to the playground where the kids play.
Children are especially sensitive to vehicle emissions because they breathe twice as much air per body weight as adults. This exacerbates asthma symptoms and causes many asthma attacks. Asthma is the most common chronic illness in children, approximately 9.1% of children in NJ have asthma, and it is the most common cause of school absenteeism.
Fact: Any time a vehicle idles for more than 10 seconds it uses more gasoline and creates more air pollution than if it was turned off and back on again.
Fact: The best way to heat or cool a vehicle is to drive it.
Anyone interested in anti-idling information is encouraged to contact Aly Dyson. GMTMA has an anti-idling toolkit with information specifically for municipalities, green teams, schools, scout troops, volunteer groups, bus companies and many more.