School tells mums and dads their running engines are no idle matter
Parents at a private school on the Mornington Peninsula have been told to not leave car engines running during pick-up and drop-off times to help reduce emissions.
Education
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Parents scoring prized car spots at school pick up have been told to turn off their engines because their idling cars are releasing nasty emissions.
Mornington Peninsula’s Woodleigh College said idling cars were at odds with the school’s environmental policy.
Woodleigh is one of a number of schools looking at ways to combat its footprint and better manage traffic around schools and where practical encourage public transport, walking and cycling.
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The coeducational private school, which has campuses at Langwarrin South, Moorooduc and Frankston South, has told parents that the harmful emissions at drop offs and pick ups are undesirable when cars are left running.
Often parents jockeying for limited car parks will arrive early for drop offs and pick ups, monopolising parking with cars running for airconditioning and heating, while they wait for children.
“In light of our core values of respect for self, others and the environment, we encourage parents to turn their engines off to help reduce the levels of noxious chemicals, including sulphur and diesel particles,” Woodleigh head of senior campus David Burton wrote to parents.
In its advice to parents at the start of the term, it pointed to a Federal Government discussion paper, Better Fuel For Cleaner Air, proposing the introduction of anti-idling laws to cut harmful emissions. The discussion paper, under the then Turnbull Government, received submissions supporting anti-idling laws.
“We would like to encourage parents waiting for students during drop-off and pick-up to please switch off your engines as you wait. You may be aware that the federal government is considering introducing anti-idling laws proposed to cut harmful vehicle emissions,” Mr Burton said.
The school declined to elaborate on the success of the idling crackdown over the term.
More than 70 submissions were received to the Federal Environment and Energy inquiry.
Idling has been a cause of concern internationally with some US states enacting anti idling laws.
Environment Victoria campaign manager Nicholas Aberle said there was no doubt that cars contributed to air quality problems.
“Just sit behind an idling diesel car and you know all about it.,” he said.
Mr Aberle said New York City had strict rules around idling.
He said schools could also look at encouraging car pooling.
Bayside Mentone Grammar has adopted a Target200 policy to increase road safety, improve traffic flow and promote a healthy community.
“In 2019, we are set to launch our Target200 Traffic Reduction Campaign, which challenges students, staff and families to contribute towards a healthier, safer and greener local community by choosing sustainable ways to travel to and from school,” the school announced.
It aims to remove 200 cars from local streets in peak times by January 2020.
To help reach the target it has improved it bus services offering increased bike storage capacity and added off-street parking for teachers.
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