Ville de Brossard is helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by regulating idling on its territory.
What is idling?
Idling means leaving a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily when it is stationary.
What are the most common cases of idling?
- Warm up your vehicle in winter and air-condition it in summer before you leave.
- Waiting at the drive-thru
- Leave the engine running when you enter a shop to make a quick purchase
What are the consequences of idling?
- GHG emissions (CO2)1
- Increased fuel consumption
- Degradation of air quality
1: Every liter of petrol consumed produces around 2.3 kg of CO2, one of the greenhouse gases that contributes most to climate change.
Tips to avoid idling
- Avoid using a remote starter: this will encourage you to start your engine when you’re ready to drive.
- Switch off the engine when your car is stationary for more than 10 seconds: leaving the engine running consumes more fuel than restarting it.
- Drive instead of warming up your car in advance: with today’s engines, 30 seconds of idling is enough before you hit the road, even in winter.
According to the municipal by-law in force, anyone who leaves the engine of an immobilized vehicle running (for more than three consecutive minutes in the case of gasoline engines, or for more than five minutes in the case of diesel engines) is liable to a fine.