Lewisham to tackle idling drivers

Lewisham Council is to use a traffic management order (TMO) to allow enforcement action against drivers who are caught idling in the south London borough.

At a meeting on 18 September, Lewisham’s mayor and cabinet agreed to introduce the traffic management order (TMO) that will allow enforcement action on all roads within the borough.

The TMO will be advertised, giving residents will have an opportunity to understand the enforcement proposal, with a start date for enforcement in early 2020.
Cllr Sophie McGeevor, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We urgently need to change public attitudes to idling as many don’t realise the risk this poses to people’s health and the environment.

“Air quality in London is a public health crisis and we all have a part to play in reducing air pollution. We hope fining drivers for idling will deter them from doing this. The overall benefit from the small action of switching off car engines while stationary cannot be underestimated.”

The council said an idling car can produce up to twice as much exhaust emissions as a moving car and exhaust emissions contain a range of air pollutants that can affect the quality of air in the environment.