Drivers risk £80 fine this September for breaking little known engine offence

Drivers across the UK are being warned of a potential £80 penalty this September. Motorists face being fined for breaking a little-known engine offence, and experts are warning them to be careful.

With children returning to schools up and down the country, the warning has been issued to parents and carers. They are being urged not to leave their engine running while dropping kids off at school.

The offence of unnecessary engine idling carries a £20 fixed penalty which doubles if unpaid within four weeks. However, this figure doubles again to £80 in some areas of London.

The higher penalty occurs when drivers refuse to turn their engine off after being asked by an authorised officer. The offence dalls under Rule 123 of The Highway Code and Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act.

The Highway Code states: "You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road.

"Generally, if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution."

As well as being illegal, leaving your engine on unnecessarily can create an excessive amount of vehicle emmisions. Harmful gases such as nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide pose dangers to children's health.

According to the Royal College of Physicians, 40,000 annual deaths in the UK are linked to air pollution. Engine idling contributes to these figures, with older diesel engines considered especially harmful.

Ian Wilson, managing director at Tiger.co.uk, said: "Many drivers who leave their engines running for convenience while waiting to collect their children are unaware of the negative effects it can have on the little ones' health and also the environment.

"The best solution would be for more parents to do the school run by walking or cycling, but if that's not possible, then making sure that the engine is switched off while waiting plays a significant part in improving the air quality as well."