Bath drivers could be ordered to turn their engines off
Drivers in the centre of Bath could be ordered to turn their engines off if they are parked up for more than two minutes under new plans to target pollution.
Bath and North East Somerset Council is launching a campaign encouraging motorists to think carefully about their exhaust fumes, with flyers being distributed to coach, bus and taxi drivers.
It is also applying for powers under road traffic regulations which would give traffic wardens the powers to take enforcement action against those who refuse, meaning drivers could be fined.
Cabinet member for transport Councillor Roger Symonds (Lib Dem, Combe Down) said it was an easy way to tackle the high level of carbon emissions in the centre.
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He said: "It is simple common sense. Exhaust fumes pollute the air with a range of harmful chemicals, like sulphur dioxide, formaldehyde, and benzene. These cause health problems like asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer. In our unique heritage city, the fumes deposit particles on buildings which result in the corrosion of Bath stone.
"The council wants drivers to play their part in combating unnecessary exhaust fumes."
The initiative does not apply to vehicles in stationary traffic, and is targeted at parked vehicles with their engines running. It has already won the support of local bus companies, which have said they are happy to comply.
Managing director of Bath Bus Company Martin Curtis said: "We already follow an engine switch-off policy which is rigorously enforced, and have no difficulty therefore in supporting this initiative."
Tim Jennings, from Somerbus, said its drivers tried to switch engines off as much as possible while in Bath.
Bath's biggest public transport provider First is preparing to introduce technology which shuts off engines when buses are stationary for a set period of time.
The firm's business manager Richard Lewis added: "To further support programmes like this we ask all of our drivers, when loading passengers at the start of their journeys to only start the engine once all the customers are on board and they are ready to leave. In Bath we enforce the latter through random spot checks within the bus station."
Comments
by Ilovespaniels
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 10:16AM
“A search found http://tinyurl.com/yh5au3q
This was quietly introduced by the government in 2002 apparently ... still cannot find the report though.”
by Ilovespaniels
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 9:32AM
“This isn't just a Bath problem, I believe it was Boris Johnson who brought in the Idling Campaign earlier in the year to clean up before the Olympics (sorry if it has been mentioned)”
by MoeXXX
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 12:43AM
“Black cars, due to their ability to absorb and dissipate heat more efficiently and therefore match the temperature of the ambient air and cause less turbulence, are more efficient than white cars.
Maybe the council should start a campaign.”
by lamail
Saturday, December 08 2012, 11:22AM
“How about enforcing people to turn off their TV sets when they're not watching them - save more pollution.Might be a tad intrusive though....”
by Imp-Act
Friday, December 07 2012, 10:49PM
“iPark, iCold, iRun, iWarm, iPhone! So P'orf BaNES & Co. I like global warming because you'll be spending eternity cold!”
by BrookWhelan
Friday, December 07 2012, 9:36PM
“Hi '26sean', this is just my own personal views. They do not necessarily reflect Conservative Party policy.
I realise most of us are already aware of fuel saving measures, but as we lead busy lives, it is quite easy to sometimes overlook these issues. I include myself in that group!
A limited poster/internet campaign by the council wouldn't cost a huge sum of money, and may serve as a timely reminder for us perhaps?”
by 26sean
Friday, December 07 2012, 9:17PM
“@BrookWhelan
when the fuel strikes where on it was plastered all over the press about tyre pressures removal roof racks etc to save fuel i think most of us are aware of that one .so why should banes waste money on that route. is that what the tories would have done ?”
by BrookWhelan
Friday, December 07 2012, 8:11PM
“Hi 't1mmyb', apologies for the delayed response.
Your idea does have certain merits, although enforcing it would be a bit difficult.
You are right that it is the shorter car journeys that are the problem. As I mentioned earlier, the council should be more engaged with this issue.
The council should be encouraging all of us to bundle all the short car journeys that we do each day into one long single journey. An example of this would be filling up the car with petrol on the way to work, rather than perhaps coming home in the evening, and making a separate journey to the petrol station.
Council communications and marketing team...thoughts please? Anyone there?”
by aurea_flamma
Friday, December 07 2012, 5:51PM
“I wonder if it's like the old fluorescent lamp argument - does a diesel engine put out less particulates during the period of tick over or when starting up? Especially as catalysts warm up more slowly on diesels? - But it's a moot point if First take pollution seriously they will have already retrofitted DPF's to their fleet to remove 90% of harmful emissions idling or not!
What for me is particularly interesting is that the type of driving that city buses are used for means the higher emissions than other vehicle uses, if they are aggressively driven – not that that would ever happen then emissions rise even further, and added to that the fact that emissions rise with the older engine technology then the aging fleet of busses in Bath aren't doing anyone any favours!
http://tinyurl.com/cchoggs
Ok so it's an old report - but so are the majority of First's busses - so I suggest its still valid!”
by t1mmyb
Friday, December 07 2012, 4:05PM
“Who said I was in favour of a ban, Malcolm? My footnote alluded to the fact that people would just work round it, making it probably pointless.
I'm much more in favour of giving people genuine travel choices. But you don't want that. You think everything's fine as it is. Well actually, you don't. You want to drive your car to even more places than you currently can.”