The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality is launching a program to encourage drivers to reduce engine idling.
Idling emits pollution into the air, wastes gas, and causes damage to the vehicle's cylinders, spark plus and the exhaust system.
PDEQ suggests drivers specifically avoid engine idling while picking up and dropping off students on school campuses, and while waiting at drive-thru windows; instead drivers can park, turn off the engine and go inside.
PDEQ wants drivers to keep the following in mind:
- Idling a vehicle just 10 minutes a day can create 340 pounds of air pollution a year.
- Elevated levels of air toxics were found at schools during times when parents were waiting in parking lots for their children.
- Idling 10 seconds or more uses more fuel and emits more greenhouse gases than turning off and restarting the engine.
Motor vehicle use is the largest single source of air pollution in Pima County.
