Safety and your vehicle
You are parked and waiting for someone. What does the Highway Code say about leaving the engine running?
- Keep it running so the car is warm and ready
- It is fine to leave it running for as long as you like
- Switch it off if you are likely to be stationary for more than a short time, to cut emissionsCorrect
- Rev the engine now and then to save fuel
Why?
A running engine that is going nowhere just wastes fuel and pollutes the air. Rule 123 of The Highway Code says you must not leave a vehicle's engine running unnecessarily while it is stationary on a road, so switch off if you will be stopped for more than a couple of minutes.
Highway Code rule 123