West Lothian Council launches crackdown on motorists.

Dec 17 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A NEW crackdown on inconsiderate drivers is being launched to help improve air quality.

Four councils, West Lothian, East Lothian, Falkirk and Midlothian, have joined forces to tackle drivers’ attitudes towards harmful vehicle emissions and have worked together to produce the campaign, now in its fifth year.

The campaign has been developed by the East Central Scotland Vehicle Emissions Partnership and funded by the Scottish Government and is aimed at motorists who leave their engines running unnecessarily

The message directed at drivers, “Idling gets you nowhere,” will appear on bus backs across the four areas.

Organisers hope that drivers, whether private or commercial, will get the message and switch off whenever possible.

In previous years the campaign has significantly reduced idling buses by 22 per cent within identified ‘hotspots’.

And the public can get involved in the project, by sending details of vehicles they see idling to a special number.

If you see a vehicle idling for around three minutes or over, text the date, time, location and vehicle registration number to IDLE 60777.

You can also leave this information or information on vehicles which are producing excessive exhaust smoke, in a telephone message on 01845 451888.

Executive councillor for the environment, Robert De Bold said: “It is great to see local authorities working in partnership to tackle a serious environmental problem.

“We are particularly concerned with drivers who sit with their engines running (idling), and people who run smoky vehicles.”