It’s hard to believe that summer vacation has ended and the kids are back to school!

Unfortunately, the return of school brings increased traffic and more vehicles idling.

By idling I mean letting your engine run while sitting in one spot, but not at a required stop like a red traffic light.

So why is idling detrimental, and what can you do about it? Consider these facts:



Idling harms our health

Air quality is probably the most difficult environmental issue we face today in North Texas.

Idling contributes to harmful, ground-level ozone.

In general, as concentrations of that type of ozone increase, more and more people experience unhealthy effects, including respiratory inflammation, reduced lung function, compromised immune systems, damage to lung cells, aggravated emphysema and bronchitis, and even permanent lung damage.

Asthma symptoms in both adults and children increase from exposure to car exhaust. Asthma is the most common chronic illness in children and the cause of many school absences.

Vehicle exhaust is harmful to everyone’s health, but it especially affects children, who breathe more and at a faster rate than adults. Also, children are closer to the ground and therefore, closer to the tailpipes.

Idling pollutes the air we breathe

Vehicle idling creates unnecessary pollution. As an example, a single car dropping off and picking up kids at school can put three pounds of pollution into the air each month.

Idling costs you money

A popular misconception is that idling your car uses less gas than turning it off and restarting.

The truth is that if you're going to be sitting more than 30 seconds, it's more fuel efficient to turn OFF your engine. Idling causes more wear and tear on engine parts and uses more gasoline, which ultimately costs you more money.

What can you do to help?

• Instead of using the drive-thru line at the fast-food restaurant, consider parking and going inside. As an added bonus you'll even burn a few extra calories to help you shed off that burger!

• If you must drive your children to school, instead of walking or biking, you can park on a side street and drop off or pick up the kids on foot.

• Pull off the road and turn off your engine when talking on the cell phone or texting. It’s safer, too!

• Don’t warm up your vehicle for more than a few short seconds. Today’s cars are designed to be warmed up in motion.

• Turn off your engine if you're going to drop off or pick up something at a friend’s house. Odds are, you'll probably end up running your engine more than 30 seconds.

These are just a few suggestions. Get creative and think about how you can reduce your unnecessary idling.

Thanks for helping improve the North Texas air quality! When we all pitch in, it makes a difference!

Thank you to the Earth Day Network and Green Dallas websites for the useful information! Visit them for more information about idling and other clean air ideas.
Check out the city's Top 5 Ways to Clean the Air, too.

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Save the Date!
Lake Highlands Elementary will be hosting another City of Dallas Recycling Roundup on Saturday, October 23rd from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

In past years accepted items have included electronic waste, documents to be shredded, tires, light bulbs, scrap metal, household items, batteries, ink cartridges, and more.

Stay tuned to Lake Highlands Today for more event details – coming soon!