FINE HIKE FOR ENGINE IDLING IN POLLUTION CRACKDOWN

DRIVERS in Wales could see a hike in the fines issued for leaving their engines running while stationary.

- By OWEN HUGHES

Councils in Wales and other parts of the UK have powers to issue £20 fines to drivers for “engine idling” - with schools and health settings usually the locations where this is enforced.

In Wales this can rise to £40 if the fine is not paid in a set period. These fines are issued if a driver fails to comply with a request to switch off their engine when asked to do so by a local authority traffic officer.

But the Welsh Government does not believe this is a serious enough deterrent as it does not “reflect the seriousness of the potential risk of pollution to public health”.

The Royal College of Physicians estimate 40,000 deaths a year in the UK are linked to air pollution, with emissions from engine idling contributing to this.

The RAC said harmful gasses including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons which are linked to asthma and other lung diseases are released from idling engines, a particular concern outside schools.

The last UK Conservative Government looked to increase fines for idling vehicles and now the Labour-run Welsh Government wants to take action in Wales. They want the fine range to increase to between £50 and £100 to act as a greater deterrent.

The consultation mentions schools and health settings as locations for this enforcement but other places could be targeted. Welsh Government said local authorities will be best placed to identify areas locally where stationary idling is a particular concern but that they would like to see a proportionate approach.