Idle Free New Jersey
Vehicle exhaust is the leading source of hazardous air pollution in New Jersey (Source: NJDEP). Air pollution from car and diesel exhaust puts people, especially children, at risk for asthma and other respiratory ailments, allergies, and possible long term problems. In addition, vehicles release potent greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
To counter this problem, New Jersey Environmental Federation, with the help of Chatham Township and Millburn Environmental Commission, is urging individuals, schools, municipalities, and business and shopping centers to take the "Idle Free Zones" pledge to help improve air quality, save money, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In New Jersey, the idling limit is 3 minutes for diesel (trucks, buses, school buses, etc.) and gasoline vehicles (cars, some trucks and buses, etc.). View state and local no-idling regulations. NJEF urges idling "hot spots" to adopt a 10 second idling limit. Here's why...
Idling Facts
- Idling for more than 10 seconds actually uses more fuel than restarting the engine.
- Tests show no more than 30 seconds is needed to circulate engine oil.
- The best way to warm up your vehicle is to drive it.
- Idling can actually damage engines because it is operating not at peak (or high) operating temperatures. It causes incomplete combusions and more harmful pollutants to be released into the air. Fuel residues also form and contaminate engine oil and damage engine parts. In addition, water can condense in vehicle's exhaust.
- Modern vehicles don't require any idling to warm them up. (Source: Office of Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources Canada)
Health Impacts
- Vehicle related air pollution can cause asthma and other respiratory problems and allergies, especially in children who breathe at a faster rate than adults. Air toxics also contribute to heart disease and attacks, as well as higher cancer rates in high traffic areas (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
- Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15 (Source: American Lung Association).
- Up to 25% of NJ's school age children are asthmatic-the leading cause of school absenteeism and increased visits to the emergency room on hot summer days (Source: NJ Department of Environmental Protection).
- Diesel vehicles emit numerous cancer causing chemicals, including benzene and formaldehyde; all vehicle gas emissions account for as many as half of all cancers attributed to outdoor air pollution (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Take the "Idle Free Zone" Pledge!
