Switch off engine when stationary

[Triple-S]

Just heard on the news that London (at least) is banning idling when stationary. They say switch off or you'll be fined - yep another money-making exercise.
What a load of nonsense - haven't they got anything better to do?
If you turn off my early '50s Ford 10 when hot it is well known the fuel will vapourise, and you won't restart for quite a while due the need to keep the fan rotating to assist cooling. I had exactly the same on my early Reliant Scimitar as the fuel pump is directly above the manifold, but I don't expect the muppet who thought this up to understand (or even care). Ford 10 starters are a bit fragile and simply not designed for repeated on/off switching - not like modern robust designs.
Yet another reason for me to NEVER visit London by car again. However, could this be the thin end of the wedge? This year London, next year nationwide?

P

[SwissXC90]

It's been common practice country wide and law in some areas where I live here in Switzerland for well over a decade

No detrimental effects whatsoever, and very beneficial for the environment.
(And protecting the environment is what it is all about)

Those who drive 50 year old cars stay out of cities with so many red lights anyway, mainly because the cars are just used on sunny Sundays to cruise the countryside.

[KerPLoD]

I think it's safe to say the average driver in London isn't in a car from the 1950's. With so much immobile traffic, it does make sense.

Out in the sticks where I live, the longest you're not moving is for a traffic light.

[The Thong]

Who’s going to be empowered with handing out the fines? Our scarce police force? Traffic Nazi’s?

TT

[Dippydog]

Unless you're chucking exhaust smoke out the back how will they determine whether you've turned the engine off or not?They'd then need proof[photographic evidence?] of any possible infringement?

[AndyJudge]

Originally Posted by The Thong

Who’s going to be empowered with handing out the fines? Our scarce police force? Traffic Nazi’s?

TT

I'd go with the latter, another council job creation scheme.

[DSK]

Well in my opinion, yes people are not using cars from the 1950's to commute in daily.

Most people use modern/new cars, most have stop/start/electric/hybrid technology.

As for those who may have one car like a mid/late 90's - 2006 ish cars, which are reliable and robust and when maintained they run healthy and clean as designed, stop start etc on these will cause unecessary wear and premature failure on engines/starters etc where components were not designed with such stop/start in mind.

I'm all for legislation but taring everything with the same brush without any thought is ridiculous. This only forces people to be hustled by the government to make them make the government even richer by making people buy new/newer cars more frequently.

[DaveNP]

Big question is, What counts as stationary? Doing an HGV refresher the instructor said if you've just stopped temporarily you can leave it in gear and use the footbrake, if you have to wait take it out of gear and use the handbrake. Get to a set of lights and stop for the red, sitting there in gear on the footbrake the instructor asks 'Why are we stopped?', 'I'm waiting for the lights to change', 'You know the rules if you're waiting' ARGHH!

[Harvey1512]

Originally Posted by Dippydog

Unless you're chucking exhaust smoke out the back how will they determine whether you've turned the engine off or not?They'd then need proof[photographic evidence?] of any possible infringement?

Surey the police don't need a picture for every motoring offence. Seatbelt not on, using a mobile, dangerous driving, erratic driving, going through a red light. Surely not all of those are based on photogrpahic evidence. Some just have to be a police officer seeing an infringement, don't they?

I'm guessing, always dangerous, the police will be given guidelines where they only hand out a fine if you are stationary with the engine running after a certain period of time eg 30 seconds, 1 minute etc. It wont be 20 seconds at a set of lights, it will be a noticeable time period. I'm assuming here, I don't know any of this. Some level of common sense has to kick in.

[Sphinx2000]

LInk to article here :

https://www.confused.com/on-the-road...nes-for-idling