Drivers face fines just for leaving engine running
PARENTS should be fined for leaving their car engines running outside schools, says the health watchdog.
NICE is urging councils to enforce ‘no idling zones’ around schools, hospitals and care homes to reduce harmful exhaust fumes.
It is also telling authorities to abolish speed bumps in urban areas and replace them with blanket 20mph speed limits.
The watchdog wants the public to adopt a smoother, fuel-efficient style of driving or ideally, abandon their cars altogether. Air pollution is estimated to be causing up to 40,000 deaths a year from heart disease, strokes, chronic lung conditions and asthma.
NICE – which oversees public health – today publishes a 62-page set of recommendations for councils, health professionals, businesses and the public. Other measures include:
New tree-lined cycle routes and walkways to protect the public from fumes;
Congestion charges rolled out across city centres;
Variable speed limits on sections of motorways;
Electronic signs telling drivers the ideal speed in the area to avoid stop-starting.
The guidelines are not legally binding, but local authorities and other organisations will be strongly encouraged to enforce them. Some councils have already imposed fines if motorists leave their engines running.
Westminster council in Central London has a ‘no idling zone’ on all streets enforced by marshals who fine drivers £80 if they refuse to switch engines off.
Nearby Kensington and Chelsea council hands out fines of £20 for idling while Reading in Berkshire is consulting on a similar scheme.
But campaigners say the rules will unfairly penalise worried parents on the school run or relatives outside hospitals.
Anne-Marie O’Leary, editor in chief of parenting website Netmums, said: ‘Can we not ask parents to switch off without fining them? We agree on switching off but the whole fines culture – particularly for parents – seems to be getting quite out of control.’ Justine Roberts, chief executive of Mumsnet, added: ‘School runs are often stressful and tightly timed. Piecemeal fines might have some effect, but Mumsnet users would really like to see a comprehensive strategy for improving air quality.’
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘No one would argue that reduc- ing pollution isn’t a worthy goal but fining people visiting sick relatives in hospital or parents at the school gates is surely not the way to go about it.’
NICE says pollution levels will be substantially reduced if motorists drove at the same, low speed rather than frequently stopping and accelerating. It wants councils to abolish speed bumps – because drivers accelerate between them – and replace them with 20mph limits.
The watchdog also urges the highways agency, Highways England, to introduce variable speed limits across sections of motorway. When NICE issued a draft version of the guidelines in December, it suggested these speeds should be cut to 50mph.
Professor Paul Lincoln, chairman of the NICE guideline committee, said: ‘Air pollution is a major risk to our health and so far, suggested measures have not managed to tackle the problem sufficiently.
‘This guidance is based upon the best evidence available. It outlines a range of practical steps that local authorities can take, such as the implementation of no-idling zones, to reduce emissions and protect the public.’
Last month, a report by the World Health Organisation warned that deaths from air pollution in the UK were significantly higher than in Scandinavia and the US.
Professor Paul Cosford, director of health protection at Public Health England, said: ‘Many of us can walk or cycle instead of using the car, particularly on short journeys. We can all avoid idling our engines and drive more smoothly to reduce emissions. For example, providing charging points for electric vehicles and introducing clean air zones which can include restrictions or charges for certain types of high-polluting vehicles.’
Dr Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: ‘Air pollution is poisonous. We welcome the recommendations to introduce no-idling areas. This will help to protect the most vulnerable in our society.’