September is “Idle Free Awareness Month” across the state of Utah, and Provo City officials are asking people to turn off their cars when picking people up or going through drive-thrus.
Utah Clean Cities Coalition started the campaign to reduce vehicle idling three years ago.
“It’s about educating the public on the reasons to cut back on idling, to turn off your engines when you’re going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds,” Helen Anderson, Provo City public information officer, said. “There are benefits like saving money, improving the air and protecting the environment.”
Cutting back on idling will save money by reducing use of fuel, preventing exhaust build-up around the car, and reducing fuel emissions that contribute to smog.
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“Research indicates that the average person idles their car five to 10 minutes a day,” the commission said. “Ten seconds of idling can use more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it. An alternative to idling is to park your car, walk inside, do your business and then go back to your car.”
The sustainability committee of Provo is working with the Provo City School District to educate people about the issue of vehicle idling. Mayor John Curtis and volunteers gathered to spread the word at Timpview High School on Sept. 1.
“What we’re hoping to do today is to promote awareness that this is an issue and to help educate people,” Curtis said. “We all have a responsibility to be good stewards and this is a great way for people to participate.”
Volunteers talked to people dropping off their children and handed out window clings with the campaign’s slogan: “Turn the key, be idle free.” They also held signs with the same logo that will soon be in every school parking lot.
Morgan Davis, a volunteer, said pollution is no surprise to Utah residents.
“If anyone’s lived here more than a year, you know we have serious inversion problems and clean air problems,” Davis said. “This is just one small way that we can try to keep our air a little cleaner here.”
His son, Reuben Davis, a freshman at Timpview High School, joined him in raising awareness. Reuben Davis liked the neighborhood effort and said that he would tell his mom or dad to turn off the car if they ever forget.
To promote the campaign, the mayor took part in a press conference with Lt. Gov. Greg Bell and other mayors at Mountain View Elementary in Salt Lake City. He also posted a blog post at provomayor.blogpost.com.
It’s not uncommon to see idling cars on BYU campus. The drop-off zone in the parking lot of the Jesse Knight Building usually has at least one or two cars waiting to pick someone up.
Kailene Larsen said she turns off her car while waiting to pick up her husband.
“Normally I do turn off my car if I’m waiting for longer than five minutes.” Larsen said.
Many people waiting in the JKB parking lot did not know about the “Idle Free” campaign. Even after hearing about the campaign, people may not want to change their ways.
“I’m only here for about five minutes so it probably wouldn’t change much,” Lindsay Seguine, an Orem resident idling in the parking lot said. “Plus I have a baby in the car so I don’t want it to get too hot in the car.”
