New anti-idling campaign targets drivers in London

Drivers who leave their engines idling are being targeted in a new campaign led by the City of London Corporation and Camden Council

The ‘Engine Off, Every Stop’ campaign, which is being funded by the Mayor of London,  features posters and billboards on roadside sites and petrol stations across the capital.

Drivers are also being reached with radio adverts, videos and social media, in a bid to change behaviour.

The four-week project highlights air pollution as an ‘invisible killer’ and is part of Idling Action London, which sees 30 London local authorities and the City of London Corporation joining forces to drive down toxic air.

Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s environmental services committee, Keith Bottomley, said: “This campaign carries a very clear call to action for London’s drivers to safeguard public health.

“Air pollution is the largest environmental risk to public health with up to 36,000 people dying prematurely every year in the UK.

“Switching off when parked is one of the easiest ways to drive that number down.

“This simple change in behaviour will make a real positive difference. We need all of the capital’s drivers to play their part in ridding this city of toxic air and saving lives.”

Businesses, residents, schools, and community groups can get involved by signing the Engines Off pledge and using free toolkits and other resources, which provide easy and practical steps to tackling idling engines.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London said: “Engine idling is completely unnecessary and threatens the health of anyone close by.

“Air pollution is not just a central London problem, which is why I’m glad London boroughs have joined this call to promote ‘Engine Off, Every Stop’.”