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Ministers urged to quadruple fines for motorists who leave engine idling


By PA News



The Scottish Government is being urged to quadruple the fine for motorists who leave their engine idling while parked – with ministers being told the current “toothless enforcement regime” does “nothing to deter offenders”.

A group including health professionals, council transport and environment conveners, environmental campaigners and those representing both parents and teachers have sent a joint letter to the Government demanding action.

In a letter sent to Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, they called for fines to be raised from £20 to £80 to “effectively deter engine idling”

The group – made up of more than 20 individuals and organisations – says guidance to councils which was first issued in 2003 should be extended to encourage local authorities to issue fines.

A letter has been sent to Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, calling on the Scottish Government to act (Jane Barlow/PA)
A letter has been sent to Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, calling on the Scottish Government to act (Jane Barlow/PA)

As it stands, while engine idling is prohibited, the current guidance states the fines should be “issued only as a last resort”, if drivers refuse to switch off engines when asked to do so.

As well as doing more to enforce the guidance, the group – which includes members of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, health charity Asthma and Lung UK, Friends of the Earth Scotland, teaching union the NASUWT and the National Parents Forum of Scotland – says powers to issue the fixed penalty notices should also be extended to council parking attendants.

The letter, which has also been signed by the transport and environment conveners of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fife and North Lanarkshire councils and the vice convener for transport and the environment at Aberdeen City Council, states the “outdated and inadequate government guidance” has prevented local authorities from “effectively enforcing the ban”.

A report by Asthma and Lung UK in 2024 found only one fine had been issued in Scotland in the past three-and-a-half years – despite more than 1,158 complaints being made to 20 councils about engine idling over the same period.

The call for action comes amid concerns over the impact of vehicle emissions on health – particularly among more vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with existing health conditions.

Dr Shivali Fifield, chief officer at the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, who has also signed the letter, said: “Engine idling exposes us to toxic exhaust fumes every single day, and like smoking in restaurants is a habit that should be condemned to the dustbin of history.

“Yet despite public outrage, it continues unabated – with a toothless enforcement regime that does nothing to deter offenders.”

Angus Millar, transport convener at Glasgow City Council, said: “While engine idling remains a significant issue throughout our cities and towns, the limitations of Scotland’s current enforcement guidance means councils are unable to provide an effective and lasting deterrent to this behaviour.

“Enforcement can currently only take place in very limited circumstances, and in the very few cases where penalties are issued these are at a historically low level set decades ago.

It is vitally important that we protect the lungs and health of our children. No-one should be forced to breathe in harmful pollutants
Gareth Brown, Asthma and Lung UK

“It’s clear that in order to seriously tackle the problem of idling, education and awareness-raising around health and environmental impacts need to be coupled with more robust and updated enforcement powers for local authorities.”

Gareth Brown, policy and public affairs officer at Asthma and Lung UK in Scotland, said: “Poor air quality contributes to up to 2,700 premature deaths each year in Scotland.

“It creates new lung conditions, worsens existing ones leading to an increase in hospitalisations and is linked to lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and stunted lung growth in children.

“People want to see more action to tackle this problem. Our annual polling of 1,000 Scots shows time and time again that people want more to be done about idling outside schools in particular.

“Exhaust emissions from cars contain dangerous toxins such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.

“It is vitally important that we protect the lungs and health of our children. No-one should be forced to breathe in harmful pollutants.”

Mike Corbett, of the NASUWT teachers’ union, said: “Vehicle pollution can have a long-lasting impact on the health of children and young people.

“But drivers, local authorities and the Scottish Government can all play their part in reducing the harms caused.

“Drivers can ensure they switch off their vehicles while waiting outside schools and the Scottish Government can empower local authorities to enact and enforce laws on vehicle idling to act as a deterrent.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scotland enjoys good air quality compared with much of Europe, but we are not complacent and determined to go further.

“Our work to deliver our 2021 strategy, Clean Air for Scotland 2, including the introduction of Low Emission Zones in our four largest cities, means that Scotland is currently meeting all of its air quality objectives.

“All local authorities in Scotland have legal powers to request drivers of parked idling vehicles, including buses and taxis, to switch off their engines, and to issue a fine if such a request is refused.”

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