Don’t idle and save lives, taxi drivers told
TAXIS drivers who pump out pollution if they leave their engine idling while waiting in city centre ranks are to be targeted by a new campaign.
The city’s licensing chief, Barbara Dring, has called on the taxi trade to make a greater effort to turn off engines in a bid to help the city meet its clean air targets.
But she admitted it will be difficult to enforce such a measure with fines or bans and instead hopes drivers will turn off engines voluntarily if prompted by warning signs.
It is estimated that 520 people in Birmingham die prematurely every year as a result of poor air quality and the council has been warned it faces a £60 million fine if it does not tackle pollution.
Measures already being looked at include a city centre Clean Air Zone in which high-polluting lorries, vans and buses will be charged, and controversial new restrictions to reduce the age of licensed taxis and minicabs to get cleaner and greener vehicles on the roads.
But taxi driver groups are angry about the plans which will reduce the age limit for a cab from 14 years. It could mean more than 500 cabs are removed from the roads.
Now licensing chiefs are also looking at warning signs in lay-bys, taxi ranks and outside schools urging waiting drivers to turn off engines.
Cllr Dring (Lab, Oscott) said: “Taxis are among the worst for emissions when they stand and have their engines running.
“We are in talks with regard to the trade clean air act and this is one of the things we will be addressing.
“We have the right to ask any car to turn off their engine while stationary and we are looking to enforce this especially around New Street Station.”
She highlighted Sundridge Primary School, in Kingstanding, which has put up warning signs for waiting parents. “This is something which could be done across the city,” she said.
She suggested New Street Station could provide a warm waiting area for drivers to reduce the temptation to keep engines running in the winter.