As a heatwave sweeps across the UK, many car owners are choosing to escape the heat by sitting in their parked vehicles with the air conditioning on. However, the British Automobile Association RAC issued a warning: Such behavior may face fines, which can be up to 110 pounds (approximately RMB 1,070) in some areas of London.
Section 123 of the UK Highway Code stipulates that the engine must not idle unnecessarily while the vehicle is parked. This provision is a statutory violation in accordance with Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The RAC pointed out that idling vehicles will continue to emit exhaust gas and increase air pollution.
Fine standards vary depending on law enforcement entities. If a ticket is issued by the police, the standard fine is 40 pounds; if it is issued by a civil enforcement officer, it is 80 pounds. However, if the owner of both types of tickets pays in time within 14 days of receiving the notice, the fine can be reduced by half.
However, some local governments exercise greater powers and issue higher fines - London Islington Borough Council confirmed that its enforcement officers will issue a 110-pound fine to car owners who refuse to turn off the engine.
Rod Dennis, senior policy officer at the RAC, said: "Air conditioning is a game-changer for modern cars, making an otherwise uncomfortable road trip a truly enjoyable experience. We are even advising owners of cars without air conditioning to postpone non-essential travel during this week's heatwave."
“But while we are all desperate to cool down, sitting in your car with the engine and air conditioning running is not an option and the resulting air pollution could expose you to fines from police or civil enforcement officials.”
In addition, this regulation seems particularly awkward in the context of the current heat wave. The British Meteorological Office has issued a rare red extreme heat warning for southern England. The temperature in London is approaching 40 degrees Celsius, setting a new record for June.
The penetration rate of air conditioning in British households is only about 5%, and the vast majority of households do not have any refrigeration equipment. For British people who do not have home air conditioning, car air conditioning has almost become the only means to escape the heat, but even so, it is still illegal to turn on the air conditioner while idling while parking.
In fact, the UK is not unaware of this contradiction. In 2019, the then Conservative government transport secretary Chris Grayling announced plans to increase idling fines, saying cracking down on idling was a "simple way to reduce dangerously high pollution levels". However, this plan has since been shelved and has never been implemented.
