Drivers seeking to cool down by sitting in stationary cars with the air conditioning on are being warned they could face fines under emissions laws. The RAC said remaining in a vehicle with its engine idling causes air pollution, and penalties can reach £110 in some London boroughs.
Fines for Idling: What Drivers Need to Know
The standard fine for idling is £40 if issued by a police officer or £80 from a civil enforcement officer, both halved if paid promptly. However, some local authorities impose larger fines. In London, Islington Council issues £110 fines to drivers who refuse to switch off an idling engine after being asked.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: "Air conditioning is a gamechanger in modern vehicles, making otherwise uncomfortable journeys by road a genuinely pleasant experience. But while we're all desperate to stay cool, just sitting in the car with the engine and air-conditioning running and going nowhere isn't advisable. Due to the air pollution this causes, you risk a fine from a police or civil enforcement officer."
Government Plans for Higher Fines Never Materialised
In 2019, the Conservative government announced plans to introduce higher fines for idling drivers, but this never took effect. Then-transport secretary Lord Chris Grayling said at the time that combating idling would be "an easy way to drive down dangerously high levels of pollution."
Heatwave Sparks Warnings Across the UK
The warning comes as the Met Office issued additional alerts for extreme heat, with temperatures potentially reaching 40°C. The highest temperatures are expected on Wednesday and Thursday, with red warnings already in place. An amber warning has been added for Friday and Saturday.
Grahame Madge, a spokesperson for the Met Office, stated: "We have issued another amber warning for eastern and central England for Friday. As the forecast continues to evolve we may need to issue further updates once more detail becomes clear."
Areas Covered by Amber Warning on Friday
The amber warning on Friday covers the East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, London and South East England, North West England, and South West England. Specific areas include Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Cambridge, Norwich, Oxford, Reading, Brighton, Manchester, and Gloucester.
The warning extends into Saturday for parts of east and south-east England, where temperatures will be a few degrees cooler but still exceed 30°C widely, peaking around 32°C to 34°C in London or East Anglia. Night temperatures are unlikely to fall below the high teens Celsius, with high humidity continuing.
