1. Idling

Idling means keeping a vehicle’s engine running while the vehicle is stationary and not in active use for driving. Switch off the engine if you expect to be stopped for more than a short time. Modern vehicles with start-stop systems do this automatically.

  • Waiting in traffic for long periods.
  • Parked with the engine on for heating, cooling, or powering accessories.
  • Queuing at drive-throughs, ferry terminals, or checkpoints.
Idling

A vehicle with the engine on and speed 0 km/h, it's idling. (Volkswagen Golf) © Wikimedia.org/Spacekid, CC0