• First, warm up by driving gently to moderately, not idling, unless below freezing

 

• Avoid idling while using devices such as smart phones, and in wi-fi zones, while parked

 

• Avoid drive-thrus (full hybrid, plug-in and fuel cell vehicles excepted). Park it, shut it off and go into the place of business

 

• Avoid using a remote vehicle starter, which encourages unnecessary idling

 

• Purchase or lease a vehicle that idles less, such as a stop-start, rarely idles such as a full hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, or is 100% emissions-free at idle, such as an all-electric or fuel cell vehicle

 

• Report a violation of California's heavy-duty vehicle idling regulation (any vehicle over 10,000 lbs. that is not Certified Idle Free) by filling out an online Commercial Idling complaint form

 

• Report a smoky vehicle (light-duty or heavy-duty) by filling out an online Smoking Vehicle complaint form

 

• WRITE A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR, OR YOUR STATE LEGISLATOR, IN SUPPORT OF VEHICLE IDLING EDUCATION & EXPANDING REGULATION

 

IDLE-FREE CALIFORNIA EXPAND IDLING REGULATION WEBPAGE

to include light-duty vehicles (passenger cars, SUVs, minivans, pickup trucks)

 

EDUCATION:

• IdleBox: A Toolkit for Idle Reduction Education and Outreach, from the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy - Clean Cities and Communities

 

SCHOOLS:

• California has a regulation for School Bus Idling and Idling at Schools. If there are compliance issues, inform local school administrators; if unresolved, contact Anna Borges, Supervisor, California Dept. of Education School Transportation Staff | aborges@cde.ca.gov | 916-375-7100

• Department of Education School Facilities Staff of the School Facilities and Transportation Services Division

• California ACR-160 resolution (non-binding) encourages motorists to not idle their motor vehicles near places

where children congregate. Contact your county California School Superintendent, school district head, or your local

school principal in support of this measure. Ask that this measure be promoted in the school community and

that IDLE FREE ZONE signs (see below) be installed at schools.

• Implement an idle-free schools campaign, from the U.S. EPA Idle-Free Schools Toolkit for a Healthy School Environment

 

CONTACT THE FOLLOWING:

• California Air Resources Board board members, some of which serve on local air districts and/or are experts in

fields that shape air quality rules. SEARCH ONLINE for these board member's contact information

• Caltrans Sustainability, Equity & Tribal Affairs

• California American Lung Association

• Breathe California Affiliates:

- Breathe California of the Bay Area, Golden Gate, and Central Coast

- Breathe Southern California

- Breathe California Sacramento Region

• Sierra Club of California, including Sierra Club of California's 13 local chapters

• California Dept. of Public Health (CDPH) Climate Change & Health Equity Program  CCHEP@cdph.ca.gov

 

ALSO:

• Learn about Idle Reduction Technologies and Strategies from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation

 

• Support roundabouts - they save gas by preventing idling, shorten trip time and studies show they reduce accidents

 

• Print and distribute idling information handouts when witnessing prolonged idling by individuals or at stores and

schools

 

• Spread the word on anti-idling to family, friends, and on social media and online neighborhood forums

 

• Write a letter to the editor - use compelling idling facts to raise awareness of unnecessary vehicle idling (idling

when parked)

 

• ANTI-IDLING SIGNS: Ask local schools to post idle-free zone signs; ask banks to post such signs at ATM drive thrus; ask mall owners to post signs in parking lots.

 

ANTI-IDLING SIGN TEMPLATES AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM THIS PAGE ON NON-MOBILE DEVICES