Telematics data shows scale of idling problem

Airmax Remote says analysis of data from 15,000 vehicles in 2018 shows idling incidents can be attributed to the particularly harsh winter and a record-breaking hot summer.

For example, on the hottest day of the year in 2018 was July 26, when temperatures reached 35.3C in Kent. Airmax Remote’s analysis of its telematics data revealed that there were more than 10,000 incidents of idling, no doubt as a result of the extreme temperature and drivers using air-con when stationery to keep cool.

Similarly, when the temperature fell to -11.7 °C at South Farnborough on February 28, there were more than 15,000 incidents of idling as drivers used climate control an effort to keep warm.

Richard Perham, managing director at Airmax Remote, said: “Our findings help support the idea that idling and wider issues of driver behaviour can be addressed by fleet managers if they have the right tools.

“Fuel costs are a large portion of a fleet’s spend, and we know fleet providers and fleet managers are constantly looking at ways to reduce or manage this spend. Having the availability of accurate data is key to making informed choices.”

Advice to stop idling

• Try to consider how long you are going to be stationary in traffic. Motorists are advised to turn off their engines if they think they are not going to move for around two minutes.
• Many modern vehicles have ‘stop-start’ systems fitted that automatically switch off the engine when the vehicle is stationary and restart it as soon as the accelerator is pressed. Manufacturers allow this feature to be manually switched off, however we urge motorists not to do this. There is no risk to your vehicle in allowing this feature to be left on.
• For vehicles without ‘stop-start’ it’s fine to turn off your engine, but you should try to avoid doing this repeatedly in a short space of time. In addition, older vehicles and vehicles with older batteries may struggle if they are started too often in a short space of time.