Petition · past parliament
Improve UK engine idling laws to tackle air pollution
Closed
35 signatures
What the petition asks
Create a time limit on how long vehicles can legally leave their engines running when stationary (we suggest 3 minutes).
Create a clearer definition of vehicle idling.
Let ordinary people report idling vehicles to an authority, allowing better enforcement of anti-idling laws nationwide.
Create a clearer definition of vehicle idling.
Let ordinary people report idling vehicles to an authority, allowing better enforcement of anti-idling laws nationwide.
Engine idling damages air quality unnecessarily yet current legislation:
- is unclear on what counts as idling, stating only that it is illegal to leave engines on “unnecessarily” when stationary
- sets no specific time limits and does not punish idling “when the vehicle is stationary owing to the necessities of traffic”
- makes it difficult to stop idling as fines can only be imposed once an “authorised person” has asked a driver to turn off their engine and the driver has refused
- is unclear on what counts as idling, stating only that it is illegal to leave engines on “unnecessarily” when stationary
- sets no specific time limits and does not punish idling “when the vehicle is stationary owing to the necessities of traffic”
- makes it difficult to stop idling as fines can only be imposed once an “authorised person” has asked a driver to turn off their engine and the driver has refused
Timeline
| 20 Jun 2019 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 6 Nov 2019 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
35
Status
Closed
Opened
20 Jun 2019
Closed
6 Nov 2019
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.