Polluting drivers who leave engines idling avoid fines

Edinburgh has failed to issue a single fine for “toxic” engine idling in more than 20 years despite hundreds of reports from members of the public.
The campaign group the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland said there was a “systemic failure” to enforce the ban on engine idling, which became a criminal offence under the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Regulations 2003.
Idling releases toxic fumes, which are harmful to both environmental and human health. Local authorities can enforce the ban by issuing fines but the ERCS says there is a sustained lack of enforcement which has resulted in widespread idling across Scotland’s urban centres.
The group requested reports and fines for idling across Scotland’s four major cities; Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dundee under freedom of information rules.
Glasgow city council has issued three fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for engine idling since 2017-18, despite 380 reports of idling from the public between 2018 and 2023, while in Edinburgh, the council has not issued any since the introduction of the ban, despite 362 reports of idling between 2019 and last year.
Aberdeen city council has not issued any FPNs since 2003, despite 15 reports of idling from the public between 2018 and 2023 and Dundee city council has not issued any since 2003, despite three reports of idling between 2018 and last year.
Research suggests that switching off car engines cuts pollution even when only stopping for 30 seconds, compared with idling.
The Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland is now calling for the level of fines to be increased, a change to the Scottish government’s guidance to encourage stronger enforcement, and reinstating enforcement monitoring, particularly around hotspots such as schools and hospitals.
Shivali Fifield, its chief officer, said: “Air pollution contributes to more than 2,500 early deaths in Scotland every year, and it is children and vulnerable adults who are hit the hardest. The tragic death of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who died just aged nine of asthma and was the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as a cause of death, highlights why tough action against engine idlers is so important.
“Hospitals and schools are the main engine idling hotspots and, as we welcome children back to school, surely we must do more to protect their health, and prevent any more child deaths. We all have the right to clean air and the Scottish government must increase fines on polluters, so that local authorities can enforce the law and not be out of pocket.”
Scott Arthur, Edinburgh’s transport and environment convener, said: “Our street enforcement officers have the power to issue fixed penalty notices to anyone who fails to comply with a request to turn off their engine and will continue to advise all drivers that engine idling is an offence, taking appropriate enforcement action if necessary. One of the key aims of national legislation is to target serious offenders, in particular where vehicles gather regularly and in these cases patrols will be put in place to eliminate this practice where appropriate.”
A Glasgow council spokesman said: “Council officers proactively engage with motorists who are observed idling and instruct them to switch off their engine as the national regulations require we must do initially.
“The council is committed to improving air quality in the city and in addition to vehicle idling awareness campaigns, we continue to undertake enforcement particularly around sensitive locations, and explore options for improving effectiveness of enforcement.”
An Aberdeen city council spokesperson said: “In order to issue a fixed penalty notice for vehicle idling, the incident would need to be witnessed by council officers.
“Our officers will usually make the driver aware they are committing an offence by letting the engine idle and request they switch it off. If the driver does not comply with the request, then a fixed penalty notice may be issued.
“We respond to all complaints about vehicle idling that we receive.”
Dundee city council was approached for comment.