On these hot summer days, we see people leave a cool building, get into their car, start the car/AC and then talk on their cellphone. They are breaking the state’s idling vehicle law, costing themselves money, polluting the air and contributing to the climate crisis.
The law is Mass Law Chapter 90, 16A. The cost can add up depending on the cost of gas and the type of vehicle. Restarting a car uses less gas (money) than idling for over 10 seconds. An idling car uses between 1/5 to 7/10 of a gallon of fuel an hour. Modern cars do not need to warm up before winter operation.
An Environmental Defense Fund Report shows that in New York City alone, idling cars and trucks produce 130,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year. Air pollution kills 9 million people per year, according to author Bill McKibben in “Falter.”
Not idling is a relatively easy change of lifestyle and an easy answer to the question, “What can I do about climate change?”
John Howard
South Hadley