Chatham’s Clean Air Program: “Turn the Key—Be Idle Free!”

Helping our communities to reduce vehicular idling, pollution, and comply with New Jersey Vehicular Idling Laws

Have you ever left your vehicle running while. . .

• waiting to pick up your children after school or at sports practices and after sports events?
• running errands?
• listening to music, talking on your mobile device, or scrolling through social media?

Because many of us idle our cars without even thinking about it, the Chatham Township Environmental Commission (CTEC) created the “Turn the Key—Be Idle Free” Program for the benefit of The Chathams. Chatham Township, Chatham Borough, the School District of the Chathams, local businesses, houses of worship, PTOs, and others have been participating in our Program since its inception almost 20 years ago. You’ve probably seen the CTEC-designed street signs all over our community which help to raise awareness of vehicular idling, reduce pollution, and help us all to comply with the long-standing New Jersey vehicular idling laws.

Engine Idling:

• Wastes gasoline Just 10 seconds of idling uses more gasoline than restarting your car.
• Harms your engine and exhaust system It only takes 30 seconds to warm-up your car engine and be ready to go. When you idle your engine, fuel combustion is incomplete and fuel residues condense on cylinder walls where they can contaminate oil and damage engine components. Condensation in your vehicle’s exhaust system can also lead to corrosion.
• Hurts our air quality and our environment An idling engine produces twice as many exhaust emissions as an engine in a moving vehicle. Car tailpipes emit carcinogens and other toxins, smog-forming chemicals, and greenhouse gases into our air.

Health Alert:

• Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution. They breathe faster than we do, and they also inhale more air per pound of body weight. Air quality is often worse in the afternoon, just about the time parents arrive at the school to pick up their children. Idling engines affect the air quality around the school – just when our excited, active children come outside.
• You are not safe from air pollution inside an idling vehicle. Exposure to air pollutants is actually higher inside an idling vehicle than at the roadside. The greatest exposure occurs when sitting in traffic congestion on highways or in a line-up of idling vehicles at a transit stop or outside of a school.

It’s the Law!

• Idling laws limit vehicular idling to 3 minutes (few exceptions) and idling is NOT permitted for the purpose of heating or cooling the driver or passengers. Motor vehicle statute C. 39:3-70.2 ; both Motor Vehicle and Traffic Act, C. 39:3-70.2, and Air Pollution Control Act, C. 26:2C-1 and N.J.A.C. 7:27-14 and N.J.A.C. 7:27-15

Does your school need a “No Idling” sign? Do you want to host an Idle Free Event at your school? Do you have questions or want additional information? Please reach out to administrator@chathamtowsnhip.org

Click here to download an information package about Chatham and New Jersey’s Vehicular Idling Laws.