Proposal to fine drivers who leave their engines running

Drivers in the Stirling area who leave their car engines running while parked, particularly around schools, could soon be fined.

Stirling Council has been looking into whether they can tackle the problem of engine idling by obtaining powers for their enforcement officers to conduct roadside emission testing, and/or issue fixed penalties to both those drivers whose vehicles fail and to those who refuse to switch off their engines.

An idling engine can produce twice as many exhaust emissions as a car that is moving, with the British Lung Foundation saying“children living and attending school in highly polluted areas are more likely to have damaged lungs when they grow up”.

At a recent meeting of the council’s environment and housing committee, officials said the Scottish Government did not seem to be recommending that local authority officials conduct emissions tests on the basis that a standard MOT test already does so.

They added:“Another complication is training the officers. It has been many years since training was available and there’s no local authorities providing training for officers for that.”

The ability to issue penalty notices for drivers sitting with their engines running, however, is being considered - albeit the impact remains to be seen.

Officials added:“Once officers have been properly trained to take that enforcement action the council will start looking at that. Over three years with three officers in the Glasgow area they have only served three notices for vehicle idling.”

Dunblane and Bridge of Allan Councillor Alastair Majury said later:“I have had a number of people contact me about cars with idling engines outside of schools. I am pleased that the council are taking steps to tackle engine idling both through communication and enforcement.”