The school year has kicked off, and the whole family is getting into new routines. But parents, there’s one good new routine that you that might not have thought of, even though it can have a big effect on kids’ health: shutting off the car in the school drop-off and pick-up line!
Vehicle exhaust in that line of cars at school (or anywhere) can have serious consequences on kids’ health. Because children breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults, they get a higher dose of pollutants when they come in contact with vehicle exhaust. Childhood exposure to the air pollutants from idling cars is associated with asthma, impaired lung function and development, increased allergies, and even impaired reproductive health. Exposure to idling pollutants can also lead to cancer and cardiovascular diseases later in life.
When you’re idling a gas-powered car, you might think, “oh, it’s not burning much fuel, so it’s not a big deal.” But idling a car for just one minute can fill 150 balloons with emissions that include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, PM 2.5, benzene and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs)! Even on a good day, you’re probably in the school pick-up line for more than one minute, and you’re not the only car: All of those idling vehicles create a microclimate of unhealthy air in your school pick-up line.
Idling your car is also expensive! Did you know that turning off your vehicle’s ignition for just 5 minutes can save more than $150 per year in fuel and wear-and-tear costs? It’s also not good for your vehicle: While idling, a car’s engine might not reach its optimal operating temperature. This leads to incomplete fuel combustion, which in turn can cause fuel residue to build up on engine components and contaminate the engine’s oil.
Fortunately, there are some easy things caregivers can do so kids can breathe easier in the school drop-off and pick-up zone:
- Turn the car off while waiting if you can. On hot days, roll the windows down.
- If you live close enough, walk, bike or scoot to and from school.
- Upgrade to an EV, plug-in hybrid, or hybrid, so your idling car doesn’t produce harmful emissions. (Did you know this a good time to switch to an EV? The federal and Colorado EV tax credits will expire soon.)
- Ask your children’s school if they have heard about the RAQC’s Engines Off program for schools. At our Engines Off page for schools, you can request “No Idling” signs and an anti-idling toolkit to learn more about starting an engines-off program at your school.
With these simple steps, you can make sure your kids are breathing cleaner air every day for the entire school year.
