Switch off your engine and help keep the air fresh – that is the message being promoted to motorists by East Dunbartonshire Council this month.
Eye-catching posters reminding drivers that they can be fined if they leave their engines running whilst parked will be displayed on billboards and bus shelters across the region throughout March.
During the campaign, the Council’s Environmental Health Officers and Police Scotland will be running spot checks at locations where people tend to sit in stationary vehicles without switching off their engines – such as outside shops and schools.
Fixed penalty notices may be issued where a driver idles their engine for more than a few minutes while parked on a public road without good cause. A fixed penalty notice for engine idling is £20, rising to £40 if not paid within 28 days.
Air pollution can be irritating to eyes, throats and lungs and people who already have breathing problems such as asthma, heart or lung disease can be very sensitive. It is also harmful to the environment.
East Dunbartonshire has two Air Quality Management Areas – one in Bearsden and the other in Bishopbriggs, and is working towards improving the air quality in these areas. One way in which the quality of the air in these areas can be improved is by reducing vehicle emissions.
Council Leader Councillor Rhondda Geekie, Convener of Policy & Resources, said, “One of the most significant causes of air pollution is vehicle emissions, so the Council has launched this campaign to remind motorists of the part they can play in reducing pollutant levels. These emissions don’t just damage the environment; they also have a detrimental effect on people’s health, particularly for the very young and the very old.
“While air quality is improving in East Dunbartonshire, we could still do better. Switching your engine off and then on again while waiting for a passenger hardly takes any extra time, but can make a difference to everyone’s health and wellbeing.
“This is a beautiful part of the country to live in so let’s ensure that the air we breathe is the best it can be.”
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