I run a vehicle fuel efficiency program, and anti-idling messages are part of the mix - and generally create lots of discussions in the presentations I give. People often ask about turning their cars off at stop lights. I do. It is not illegal to turn your car off at a stop light here in Nova Scotia, but the police have discouraged us from encouraging this practice, due to safety concerns. My question is: I have heard that there are places in Europe where it is mandatory to turn off your vehicle if you are third in line at a red light. I can't seem to find any information about this on-line. If anyone has more information about initiatives such as this (particularly bi-laws of this nature) I would really appreciate the information.
Many thanks.
Gina Patterson
www.DriveWiser.ca
drivewiser Program Coordinator
long distance: 1-800-665-5377
local: (902) 420-8802
fax: (902) 424-5334
Clean Nova Scotia
126 Portland St.
Dartmouth, NS B2Y 1H8
Turning off Cars at Stop Lights-Anti-Idling Laws
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The problem with turning the car off each time I stop at a traffic light, is that my car has now about 200,000 miles on it and the switching mechanism for the on-off switch is likely at the end of its useful life too. That is, if the more I turn the car off, the more there is wear and tear on at least the switching mechanism, if not the starter, so . I may save gasoline, but I may end up killing my car (and my budget) - something like, operation successful, patient dead. I wonder if the switching and starter mechanisms in more recent car models have longer use lifes and/or are more durable (the answer is likely so, but ..). What is Truth?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0HaDXu4M0U
Hi Gina:
I did a quick search for you for anything in German. There is some data discussed at the following website showing that turning the engine off while waiting at a traffic light substantially saves gasoline. A study conducted in 2002 in Japan is mentioned in particular. http://www.ignoranz.ch/item/beim-halten-motor-abschalten/ And, yes, the City of Winterthur in Switzerland has adopted a regulation that directs drivers to turn their engines off while waiting at a light or otherwise idling. It doesn't appear that this is a third car rule. http://www.stadt.winterthur.ch/upload/politik/weisungen/W02049.pdf I didn't check other countries, but thought this could get you started.
All best,