Warning to drivers who leave engines running

DRIVERS WHO leave their engines running while sitting in their cars in a West Yorkshire district could be fined under new proposals.

Wakefield Council will consider whether or not to make use of legislation allowing them to clamp down on the practice, which is known as idling. If pursued, the move would be taken to improve air quality.

Leaving an engine running “unnecessarily” on a public road is considered an offence under road traffic regulations and drivers can be fined up to £ 20 for it.

But the council’s climate change scrutiny committee was told that few local authorities actually enforce the rule.

However, Wakefield Council officer Gary Blekinsop said a crackdown “would not be a bad idea” and would potentially lead to cleaner air outside schools, where the practice is common.

Mr Blenkinsop, the authority’s environmental health manager, said: “There is the potential for an offence to be introduced for idling. It’s an adopted power and not many councils have adopted it as a power. It’s something, if we wanted to do we could look at it.

“It’s a deterrent. Enforcing it would be a two phase approach. You’d have to issue a warning first and then a fixed penalty notice afterwards.

“So most people would take the warning and then switch their engines off. There is potential for us to go there. If councillors want to see that explored we could look at that.”

Mr Blenkinsop said enforcing idling as an offence would require money but added that it would allow the council to crack down on areas of concern, “such as outside schools”.