Nottingham CC to introduce £20 fine for engine idling

Nottingham City Council has become the latest local authority to planning to impose a` fine on drivers who repeatedly leave their engines idling.

Local authorities in Norwich, Reading and London began issuing penalties at the start of 2018, with around 30 councils now having rules in place to target idling drivers - particularly around sensitive areas like schools and hospitals. Westminster City Council fines motorists £80 for the offence and has enforced 28 fines over the last 12 months.

The moved is supported by the RAC. Head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, said: “Measures like this can play a big part in changing driver behaviour, by encouraging them to really think about how they reduce their emissions footprint.

“If schemes like this can make enough of a difference in reducing emissions, there may be less of a temptation for local authorities to implement wider charging schemes for drivers.”

Lyes advises drivers to switch off their engines whenever they are parked or stationary for long periods of time, such as when picking up children from school.

He added: “If a vehicle has stop-start technology, it should always be enabled.”