How a single New York citizen is improving roadside air - George Pakenham tells his story.
The Idling Engines Law that will improve the air while you walk in the streets :
The case :
Idling vehicles cause air pollution, along which various illnesses such as asthma and lung diseases, in addition to heat and noise nuisances to the nearby pedestrians and shops.
These environmental nuisances are constant everyday. In November 2007, The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) launched a five-month public consultation on the proposal to introduce a statutory ban against idling vehicles. On 26 May 2008, it briefed the Panel on Environmental Affairs on the outcome of the public consultation.
At the Panel meeting on 15 January 2009, Members have asked the Administration to further consult all the stakeholders (transport trade) on the revised proposal to ban idling vehicles with running engines (idling vehicles).
Today :
Today the EPD is working on a law that may include exemptions to specific trades such as taxis, minibuses, coaches, and vans.
However these trades represent 90% of all vehicles idling needlessly all year long, whether in summer or in winter. In this specific case, it is important to keep in mind that other cities, and countries in the world with similar patterns than Hong Kong have adopted a comprehensive law granting exemptions only to ambulances and buses – leaving only 1mn for idling to parents picking up their children in front of the school.
NO EXEMPTIONS have been granted to taxis and public transport. This is the case of New York with a high density urban area, hot summers and even cold winters as well as : 31 American States, and Japan, Taiwan, Sweden, Switzerland, Scotland, England, France, Holland, Germany, Italy, etc…
It is also important to keep in mind that drivers idling their own engines slowly intoxicate themselves and are the most at risk of developing asthma and lung diseases as the exhaust fumes come back into the car through their own car ventilation system.
Support the complete ban on idling engines for Hong Kong Now :
- Write to Clear The Air – ban-idling-engines@cleartheair.org.hk
- State in the subject and / or body of the email, "Yes, I support a complete ban on idling engines"
- Provide your Name
- Idling negatively impacts air quality outside and inside the car -- Emissions from a cold, idling engine contain extremely high levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and hydrocarbons.
- Idling wastes fuel and money -- It's been estimated that American drivers unnecessarily consume over 2 billion gallons of fuel each year while idling. With gas prices at their highest levels in years, the cost of idling to individuals is significant and the cost to our economy is astronomical.
- Idling adversely affects the health of millions -- Researchers have proven a direct link between air contaminants present in vehicle emissions and serious respiratory conditions. Younger children and older adults are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of these pollutants.
- Idling is not good for your engine -- Idling after a cold start leaves fuel residue and condensed water on engine and exhaust components causing damage and contamination of engine oil.
Some statistics :
The pollutants emitted by the engines pollute the air, and will affect your health and the pedestrians’ health.
Let’s take a look on the statistic about idling engine:
• Hong Kong has the highest road traffic density in the world.
• Hong Kong has about 567,705 vehicles with a total road length of only 2009km.
• On average, there are 275 vehicles per km on the road.
• Vehicles are the second largest source of air pollution in Hong Kong, contributing to 25%, 25% and 15% of the territory-wide emission of respirable suspended particulates (RSP), nitrogen oxides(NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) respectively.
• Idling a vehicle for as little as 10 minutes a day consumes an average of 100 liters of petrol a year; i.e. $1,400 a year assuming petrol is priced at $14 a liter.
• Idling a vehicle can also contaminate engine oil and accelerate the deterioration of engine components.