- 62% say COVID has increased likelihood of driving children to school according to new report
- 1 in 3 children in the UK breathe unsafe levels of air pollution
- 60% unaware that sitting in a stationary car with the engine running is illegal
- Men are 50% more likely to idle than women
- Lack of parking near schools fuels idling in urban areas
- Renault launches “Be Mindful, Don’t Idle” awareness campaign to help improve air quality outside schools
- Renault has pioneered electric mobility for more than 10 years and is Europe’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer
- Renault ZOE is the best-selling electric car in Europe and is part of Renault’s range of eight electrified models
- Find out more about the campaign, here: www.renault.co.uk/BeMindful
With one in three children in the UK growing up breathing unsafe levels of air pollution*, the return to school could see the problem intensify with 62% of parents saying they are more likely to drive their children to and from school as a result of the recent pandemic.
The increased dependency on the car comes as more than a quarter (27.2%) admit to leaving their engines running – known as idling – during the school run, according to a detailed new study by Renault. Men are 50% more likely to do it than female drivers, representing 32.7% and 22% respectively.
The findings have been released as Renault launches its ‘Be Mindful, Don’t Idle’ education campaign to improve air quality around schools. More than 8,500 schools, nurseries and colleges in England, Scotland and Wales are located in areas with dangerously high levels of pollution**.
Renault studied the habits and attitudes of more than 4,000 ‘school run’ parents and motorists. Of the reasons given for leaving their engines running nearly a third cited doing so because they are only stationary for ‘a short while’ and 26% wanted to keep the heater or air-con on.
Alarmingly, 60% of all drivers are unaware that it is illegal under Rule 123 of the Highways Code. Authorities can now issue £80 fixed penalties under Road Traffic Regulations 2002 and Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in Scotland.
A lack of parking near schools is the biggest infrastructural challenge to idling.
Overall 23% said they needed to be ready to move their car into a suitable parking space. Naturally, this issue is worse in urban areas – 60.9% – compared to rural locations with just 11.5%.
