Driving Tips > Safety Columns
Reduce Idling to Drive Safe and $ave
True or false: It takes more gas to stop and restart your engine than to keep it running.
False – the truth is that anything over 10 seconds of idling uses more fuel than shutting off and restarting you vehicle.
On average, a Winnipeg driver will spend up to 25 per cent of their trip idling! This adds up to an enormous waste of fuel and money, all while releasing air-polluting emissions.
By reducing the amount of time you let your vehicle idle, you will save money and will also contribute to a healthier, safer community through better air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Follow this simple action plan to reduce the amount of time and money you waste idling in your vehicle, and make our roads safer:
Remember to turn off your engine whenever you find yourself parked and out of the flow of traffic.- Reduce idling your car after a cold start. Idle for a maximum of 30 seconds and then drive your car slowly for the first five kilometers to warm all of your vehicle’s moving components more efficiently.
- Avoid using an automatic car starter.
- Use a block heater. If you plug your car in overnight, consider using a timer set for no more than two hours. Any longer, and you are just wasting electricity.
- Spread the word. Let family and friends know the negative side of idling or be a leader and start an anti-idling campaign at your school or work.
For more information about idling and fuel-efficient driving visit the ecoDriver Manitoba website at www.ecodrivermanitoba.ca.
The 60 Second Driver
