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Business: Transportation

Idling gets you nowhere.

Let's stop idling in its tracks!
For our health –
For our climate –
Let's stop idling in its tracks!

Leaving a vehicle idling - it's something we often do without thinking. Sometimes you can't avoid it, such as while waiting at a traffic light or when caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic. But many times you can!

Did you know that –

  • An idling vehicle emits nearly 20 times more pollution than one traveling at 50 km/h.
  • Ten seconds of idling uses more gas than restarting an engine.
  • $1.8 million of fuel is idled away by Canadians annually.

It's about our health.

  • Car, truck and bus emissions are the single largest source of smog-causing pollutants in Ontario.
  • Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because they inhale more air per pound of body weight.
  • Exposure to most auto pollutants is much higher inside a vehicle than at the roadside.
  • Every year 16,000 Canadians die prematurely from air pollution.

It's about our environment.

  • Climate change is caused by greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are mostly generated by burning fossil fuels.
  • Industrialized nations have produced almost all the greenhouse gases now present in the atmosphere - and their emissions continue to grow.
  • We can stabilize our climate by acting now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Cutting down on idling vehicles is a great place to begin!
  • By taking the following five simple steps, you can help make our City smarter, healthier and greener.
  • Reduce warm-up idling - start driving after no more than 30 seconds of idling because excessive idling is not good for your engine.
  • Turn it off after 10 seconds - turn your engine off if you are going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds, except in traffic.
  • Minimize use of remote car starters - these devices encourage you to start your vehicle before you are ready to leave, which means wasteful idling.
  • Use a block heater - in temperatures below 0°C, use this device to warm up the engine before starting your vehicle. This will improve fuel efficiency and reduce exhaust emissions.
  • Spread the word!

For more information visit ottawa.ca or call 580-2400.
Cutting down on idling reduces greenhouse gas emissions while also saving fuel costs. It's the smart thing to do, for our City and for our environment!