School-run mothers face fine if engine left running
Councils advised to enforce no-idling zones and congestion charges to prevent air pollution
PARENTS are likely to be banned from leaving their cars idling while on the school run under new anti-pollution guidance from public health officials.
Guidelines published today from Nice (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and Public Health England (PHE) call on councils to enforce a ‘no idling’ policy near where vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly gather. It means that parents could face fines for keeping their engines running outside of schools.
Nice said it even meant ice cream vans would no longer be able to wait outside the school gates. Ice cream sellers cannot turn their engines off because they power the on-board fridges. They also said that although air pollution was harmful for everyone, under-14s and over-65s were more susceptible to the effects, as were people with respiratory conditions such asthma or heart problems.
Professor Paul Lincoln, chief executive of UK Health Forum and chair 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.”
PHE estimates long-term exposure to particulate air pollution has an effect equivalent to around 25,000 deaths a year in England, which makes air pollution the largest environmental risk linked to deaths every year.
The health impact of air pollution caused by human activities in the UK is thought to cost between £8.5 billion and £18.6billion a year. Road traffic is said to contribute more than 64 per cent of air pollution recorded in urban areas. This comes from sources such as exhausts and the wear of tyres.
Other recommendations include removing speed bumps to allow smoother driving, introducing more clean air zones and congestion charging, and charges for the most polluting vehicles.
Professor Paul Cosford, PHE’S director of health protection and medical director, said: “We need a concerted effort to address the health impacts of air pollution and this report shows there are steps we can take to help tackle it.
“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.
“Councils can include low and zero emission strategies in their plans. 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.”