The Town's Anti-Idling Policy

The Anti-Idling Policy was initiated, in 2005, to stop unnecessary engine emissions due to idling. The policy states that Town vehicles will not be permitted to idle for longer than two minutes. This applies to all employees who are authorized to operate vehicles and equipment owned, leased or rented by the Town of Ajax. Some exemptions, however, have been established to facilitate the effective provision of emergency response, diagnosis of repairs and for the safety of staff in extreme weather conditions.

In addition to the implementation of the policy, Fleet Services continues to replace old vehicles with hybrids that do not idle - using an internal combustion engine.

Quick Facts

• An idling vehicle emits nearly 20 times more air pollution than when traveling at 50km/hr.
  
• Turning off and starting an engine uses less fuel than letting the engine run for 30 seconds.
  
• Engine wear is greater at prolonged idle than during normal operation.
  
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation estimates that an idling gasoline vehicle with an average sized engine uses about 2.2 litres of fuel per hour and that an idling diesel truck engine uses about 3 litres of fuel per hour.
  
• Reducing idling time by 10 minutes a day translates into approximately 60.8 hours a year and a fuel consumption avoidance of more than 100 litres.