New campaign urges drivers to help deliver cleaner, healthier air

· All drivers urged to switch off their engines when parked, loading or waiting at the road side

· If all the vehicles in central London turned off their engines for as little as one minute per day, it could annually save PM10 pollution equivalent to a car travelling to the moon three times and back

The Mayor has launched new campaign encouraging Londoners to turn off their engines when their vehicle is stationary for more than a minute. It is part of a new package of measures to improve air quality, cut harmful pollution and clean up the city ahead of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Delivered by Transport for London , the new no engine idling campaign urges drivers of all vehicles to make a small change and switch off their engines when they are parked or when picking up and dropping off people or goods, reducing the amount of unnecessary and harmful exhaust fumes emitted. It also highlights the health benefits of reducing pollution levels to both prevent and alleviate illnesses such as asthma, heart and lung conditions. Leading health and transport organisations such as Asthma UK, the Confederation of Passenger Transport, and the Freight Transport Association have voiced their support for the campaign.

Turning off an engine and restarting it after a minute or longer causes less pollution than keeping the engine idling and uses less fuel. If all drivers in central London switched off their engines, rather than idling unnecessarily, for one minute each day this could reduce PM10 emissions annually (tiny airborne particles generated principally by road transport) by the emissions equivalent to a medium sized diesel car travelling 2.5 million kilometres, or making three return trips to the moon. The campaign is aimed at all drivers including cars, buses, coaches and taxis. For example, black cabs account for around a quarter of PM10 emissions in central London with up to 15 per cent of that estimated to be as a result of taxi drivers leaving their engines idling when stationary.

Research commissioned by the Mayor's office has suggested that poor air quality contributes to an equivalent of around 4,300 premature deaths in London in a year, with many people, especially children and older people, having their quality of life adversely impacted by it. Londoners also identify improving air quality as one of their environmental priorities. Implementing the measures in the Mayor's strategy such as this new campaign is expected to reduce PM10 emissions in central London by about a third by 2015, compared to 2008 levels.

The Mayor Boris Johnson, said: “I am committed to improving Londoners' quality of life by bringing the best of village living into the city. This includes delivering cleaner, healthier air.

“Turning off engines when stationary for more than a minute creates a host of positive benefits by reducing pollution and using less petrol to save people money. This small individual step can collectively make a massive difference and help improve our great city.”

One common myth about engine idling is that switching a vehicle’s engine on and off would wear it out and would also use more fuel. However, ignitions in modern cars have eliminated this problem and research shows that turning off an engine and restarting it after a minute uses less fuel and causes less pollution. Switching the engine on and off does not cause any damage to the vehicle.

Garrett Emmerson, Chief Operating Officer for Surface Transport at TfL, said: “We are asking all drivers to consider making one small switch, when loading or parked please switch off your engine. This is just one measure which can improve air quality in the Capital and complements some of the other action we are taking such as dust suppressants along PM10 hotspots and the green wall at Edgware Road installed in November.”

The no engine idling campaign is just one of a package of targeted measures* being funded by the DfT at the request of the Mayor to reduce PM10 levels.

Emily Humphreys, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Asthma UK, said: “There is strong evidence that pollution from heavy traffic can cause asthma attacks and that long-term exposure to traffic fumes is linked to the development of asthma among children who live near busy roads. Two thirds of people with asthma tell us that pollution makes their asthma worse. As London has over 600,000 residents with the condition, we hope that the no engine idling campaign will help to improve air quality so that people with asthma can breathe more easily.”

Andy Mair, Head of Engineering Policy for the Freight Transport Association, said: “Reducing engine idling, even for short periods, reduces engine emissions and can improve local air quality. By cutting fuel consumption down it can save money too.

“FTA is pleased to support this campaign and will be working with members to develop an action plan to help and encourage commercial vehicle operators and drivers to avoid unnecessary engine idling.”

Work to reduce engine idling has already been delivered by TfL with a small team of taxi marshals who monitor taxi ranks at busy central London mainline stations and other on street ranks where air quality is particularly poor to help reduce vehicle emissions, including from engine idling..

TfL's Managing Director for Surface Transport, Leon Daniels, has also written to coach, bus and freight operators to encourage their drivers to switch off their engines whilst waiting in bus stands or loading goods and will continue to work with them to reduce PM10 emissions and improve London’s air quality.

Transport for London's no idling campaign is running from now with radio and poster adverts. More information can be found on Transport for London's website: www.tfl.gov.uk