HomeMy WebLinkAboutIX - Vehicle Idling Letter P 14
ushkosh
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Unnecessary vehicle idling is a contributor to air pollution and increased health risk in our community.
One of the areas where unnecessary idling occurs the most is at our school when children are being
dropped off or picked up. High concentrations of idling vehicles greatly increase the presence of toxic
chemicals such as;nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds. By turning our
engines off in school zones, we can drastically decrease the amount of toxic chemicals that we release
near our children. Join us in creating a healthier environment for our children.
Facts about vehicle idling:
1. Children take in more air than adults per pound of body weight, therefore children near idling
take in more harmful emissions than adults.
2. Athletes take in even more air during practices and games.
3. Idling prolongs the cold start period for an engine, leading to increased amounts of emissions.
4. Stopping an engine for a short time (from several seconds to a few minutes) reduces the fuel
consumption of gasoline vehicles, while idling vehicles continued to consume fuel during the
idling process.
5. The higher the concentration of idling cars, the higher the concentration of
pollutants/particulates entering the air.
6. Emissions have shown an increased effect of asthma symptoms in 7-8% of the population,
especially for young children (American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine,
2005)
What you can do:
1. Reduce your idling in school zones and near children's sporting events.
2. Talk with other parents about idling. Pass along the message to stop vehicle idling in school
zones.
3. Consider carpooling to reduce emissions.
4. Reduce your idling during other times of non-moving traffic (trains, open bridges,etc.)
Please join us as we seek to reduce the level of idling in the City of Oshkosh, and, in particular, at our
Oshkosh Area Schools. Thank you for taking steps to provide your child with a healthier school
environment.
Sincerely,
Margy Davey
Chair, Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board
City Hall,215 Church Avenue P.O. Box 1 130 Oshkosh,W 154903-1 130 920.236.5000 http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us