Can I get fined for leaving my engine running?

There are some motoring laws which every responsible driver should be aware of but we still see frequently flouted.

Running a little late so grabbing a crafty sandwich while driving? This can be classed as careless driving and can rack up between three and nine penalty points plus, potentially, a £100 fine. In fact actions such as applying make up, using an electric shaver or changing a CD can all land you in trouble.

Idling

And as you sit in your warm car on a chilly day with the engine running, you could be handed a fine of £20 (or up to £80 in parts of London) under the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002.

We know it makes good sense to cut your engine - and not just to save money on fuel. Vehicles can produce as many (if not more) emissions when simply idling as driving. These include particulates and nitrogen oxide, and are linked to conditions such as asthma, heart problems and some cancers.

Turn it off

Newer petrol and diesel models often have a stop-start feature - which cuts the engine while the vehicle is stationary - but even these will restart the engine after a while to ensure the battery isn’t run flat. Many older models won’t have this and should be manually turned off when possible.

The law doesn’t mean you have to turn off the ignition while paused briefly at traffic lights, but does mean that if you are waiting to pick up your child from school or loading your vehicle, you should cut the engine to save on needless emissions.

Exemptions

This law doesn’t apply on private land such as supermarket car parks. And there are certain circumstances where leaving your engine running is acceptable, for example while diagnosing a fault or defrosting your windscreen.