Diesel Fueled Engines....

[Matheous-2]

Why, oh why do many Diesel engine vehicle drivers think they HAVE to leave their engines ticking over for long periods?? Apart from the pollution and illegality of it -do they think the engine is not going to start again?
Switch them off!

[tonyav]

Whats bought this little rant up Matheous ?.

[DTCwordfan]

what's illegal?

[alavahalf]

Where does it say it's illegal to have your engine running ?

[shoota]

It is if it's unattended.

[alavahalf]

Sorry I did'nt see the word .. unattended mentioned.

[Matheous-2]

What brought on my little rant is when I visit my local park, where cars/ vans/ 4x4s are allowed to park near the water and wildlife, many diesels sit watching the ducks with their engine running. I personally like to try and grab a little bit of peace and tranquility when I go there.
Is it not a fine incurring offence to allow long periods of 'ticking over'?

[tonyav]

Don't think so Matheous the fine. They are most likely letting the engine tick over to run the heater.

[shoota]

The offence is (if memory serves) 'not being in proper control of the vehicle' so it is not an offence to sit in the vehicle with the engine running but it is should you get out and leave the engine running.
The law requires that the engine be turned off and the handbrake 'properly' set when unattended.

[ABerrant]

The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emission) (Fixed Penalty) Regulations 2002 (& 2003) - applicable to England, Wales and Scotland - enable local authorities to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to drivers who allow their vehicle engines to run unnecessarily while the vehicle is parked and refuse to turn off the engine when requested to do so.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/1808/made
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2003/300/made
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2003/212/made

[alavahalf]

These will help with the tranquility ... http://tinyurl.com/ax3b64h

[Matheous-2]

Alavahalf - I've got an iPod & headphones.....but they don't do anything about the fumes- should I wear a gas ask as well?

[ABerrant]

BTW "Leaving motor vehicles unattended" with engine running [contrary to s. 107 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986] is separate to "Stopping of engine when stationary" [s.97 RV(C&U)R 1986].

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/part/IV/made

Construction & Use breaches are offences under s.42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended).

[hc4361]

Do those offences apply to a park car park though?

[paddywak]

I've a diesel,it's also eco-friendly in that if you take it out of gear the engine shuts itself down till you depress the clutch. Also this practice is not restricted purely to diesel drivers lots of people in petrol driven cars do it

[Matheous-2]

Paddywak - I do know that but it seems to me more diesel drivers seem guilty of this - Taxi drivers among the worst!

[DTCwordfan]

the condition "when requested to do so" applies.

Good quality diesel is less polluting than petrol by the way, particularly with the centistoke level it gets marketed at by many (>70).

[Zeuhl]

This practice annoys me too.

Despite claims for cleanliness (which it seems are often bogus) diesel engines are frequently noisy and smelly. Why keep a heater running? doesn't the cabin retain its heat for a good while? Mine does.

I don't know if it's true, but a driver once admitted to me it's a habit among drivers of commercial vehicles because of a belief that if the engine is running they can't be done for illegal parking.

[ABerrant]

The condition "when requested to do so" applies to local authorities wishing to exercise their powers.

A police constable may issue an FPN for the same offence with no request/denial condition needing to be satisfied.

[Hopkirk]

"Good quality diesel is less polluting than petrol"

I don't think everyone agrees with that DT.

They have different pollutants, but diesel has a particular problem with particulates.

http://www.lordgrey.org.uk/~f014/usefulresources/aric/Resources/Fact_Sheets/Key_Stage_4/Air_Pollution/26.html

[BillyBB]

South Yorks Police have a system in some panda cars to allow them to remove keys and lock vehicle whilst leaving it running. Guess they must be exempt.