Idle Free New Jersey

Idling your vehicle for more than 3 minutes is against the law in New Jersey.

That’s because vehicle exhaust not only pollutes our air (it is the leading source of hazardous air pollution in New Jersey (source: NJDEP), but also puts people, especially children, at risk for asthma and other respiratory ailments, allergies, and possible long term problems. In addition, vehicles release potent
greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Idling Facts

• Idling for more than 10 seconds actually uses more fuel than restarting the engine.
• Tests show no more than 30 seconds is needed to circulate engine oil.
• The best way to warm up your vehicle is to drive it.
• Idling can actually damage engines because it is operating not at peak (or
  high) operating temperatures. It causes incomplete combustions and more
  harmful pollutants to be released into the air. Fuel residues also form
  and contaminate engine oil and damage engine parts. In addition, water
  can condense in vehicle’s exhaust.
• Modern vehicles don’t require any idling to warm them up.
  (Source: Office of Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources Canada)

Health Impacts

• Vehicle related air pollution can cause asthma and other
  respiratory problems and allergies, especially in children who breathe
  at a faster rate than adults. Air toxics also contribute to heart
  disease and attacks, as well as higher cancer rates in high traffic
  areas (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
• Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15 (Source: American Lung Association).
• Up to 25% of NJ’s school age children are asthmatic-the leading cause of
  school absenteeism and increased visits to the emergency room on hot
  summer days (Source: NJ Department of Environmental Protection).
• Diesel vehicles emit numerous cancer causing chemicals, including
  benzene and formaldehyde; all vehicle gas emissions account for as many
  as half of all cancers attributed to outdoor air pollution (Source:
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Take the No-Idling pledge!

If you are going to be idling more than 30 seconds, turn off your vehicle.