To be shocked - Schools at pick up time are the most polluted area in a town?!!!!!

[ChristmasSprite]

Parents picking up outside school running engines are causing highest concentrations of pollution

I haven't read any other replies yet but how is this shocking!!
Is obvious...
Exhaust fumes =bad.
Lots of cars due to people picking their children up = lots of bad exhaust fumes.
Lots of bad exhaust fumes = pollution likely to be higher in that part of town

I used to walk everyday. Literally never drove and would happily chuckle at the carnage. But my landlord sold my house so I’m now just over a 30 minutes (fast no dawdling) walk away down a muddy track. So I can’t get back in time to pick my car up (to drive back half the same route) and into work in time. Plus my kids end up covered in mud and wet. I really tried when we first moved on days I wasn’t in the office but stopped after twice getting absolutely sodden by cars going through puddles and having to walk sobbing children home to dry and change for everyone to be really late.

I do park a little way away, I don’t leave my engine running, I’m not over any drives etc.
I’d love to walk, it’s a much nicer start to the day I really really miss it. But it doesn’t always work.

You haven't read the thread properly then, Dotty.

It's about people running their engines while stationary, not just driving to pick up and drop off.

I don't get it, we live around 10-12 min walk from the school. We never drive usually as my DH works from home and usually take the dog for a walk when dropping the kids. I then pick them up on my way back from work (public transport) A few of my neighbours go to the same school and the always drive, the one nearest to me even comment on how 'good' we are that always work Anyway even on the days that I could drive I wouldn't as the parking is HELL and I just wouldn't want the stress. Leaving the engine on waiting really boils my piss! so selfish

Another one that isn't at all surprised.

In bad traffic jams I never hear anybody else starting up their engine when it's finally time to move. Everybody sits there idling.

I get to work really early to beat the traffic, and often sit in the car park (engine off) listening to my audiobook for a while. There's a woman who sits there for 15 minutes each morning, engine idling, doing her makeup.

When I got to Tesco for lunch and sit and eat in my car, I nearly always see other drivers doing the same - engine running.

Obviously everybody on this thread is perfect but it's pretty clear we're in the minority. Most people either don't know or don't care that they shouldn't sit and idle.

Most people either don't know or don't care that they shouldn't sit and idle

I'll be honest and admit that I had absolutely no idea about this. I'm a fairly new driver and it never came up in my lessons, theory test etc and I have just never been aware of it. But obviously now that I do know I'll be sure not to do it. Tbh I'm rarely waiting around in my car anyway and never for long periods of time but its also good to know about turning the engine off in traffic jams 👍

@LettuceP
I am shocked ts never come up in driving instructions or test, as it is illegal, but there's a a place a start, ensure its added to all instructors instruction.

Thank for your contribution, and am pleased it has raised awareness for someone, and maybe some reading who don't want to post.

A car is not for every trip

I'm far from perfect, Ted.

My car has an engine cut off setting, so it switches itself off in traffic, it used to drive be bonkers when I first got it.

Leaving the engine on is just so unnecessary and anti social. On a still foggy day in winter you can see and smell the fumes. It's a small thing, but it's easily avoidable.

Lettuce you had to take a test and learn the Highway Code
It’s very clear in rule 123 and time frame

Also a must not rather than a should not, as there is a difference between these two instructions

Ted I do hear others engines starting in traffic queues, but its not that noisy, you will see exhaust fumes stop too! Not that ppl are looking out for that, I'm not perfect at all, but my car switches off automatically, and many do, u less you manually override that.

@Dotty1970 yes, we know that I think.

Its completely unnecessary to leave an engine running though, and that is the reason for the dangerously high levels of toxicity around schools/children/teachers/ and even babies in cars

LettuceP I think the rule of thumb is that if you'll be stationary longer than 30 seconds, it's better to switch off. Shorter than that and you use more fuel (or create more emissions?) by switching on and off.

ChristmasSprite I hope it happens a lot more than I think and I just don't happen to notice it!

The pollution inside a car idling is higher than outside, added to which any children will be affected more so than any adults in the car due to their breathing patterns

some sort of vehicle exclusion zone around schools?
a ban on chelsea tractors and bonus points for people who use shanks pony?

wordthe I really think schools and residents would have a massive sigh of relief, but how on earth could it be enforced? A pp made reference to a similar situation in their area, but that some still drove up to the school! I think!?

....and health issues would recede, it would be hoped!