RAC selling anti-idling banners for schools

The RAC has begun selling banners that encourage motorists to not leave their engine running idle outside schools.

The banners, which cost £60 including delivery and VAT, are produced for the RAC by Ottimo Digital.

The RAC makes no profit from the sale of the banners and Ottimo Digital has agreed to print them at a reduced margin.

An RAC poll found that 88% of drivers said they regularly or occasionally see other drivers parked at the side of a road or street with their engines still running.

Most vehicles that are seen needlessly polluting in this way are generally parked on the side of the road in towns and cities (30%), but 26% are spotted doing this outside schools.

The banner is below and can be ordered here.

In September, a Sustrans poll revealed 90% of parents and residents would back a School Streets scheme in their area which bans cars from entering roads near to schools during pick-up and drop-off times.

They’ve proved popular in several London schools, with consultations in Hackney revealing two-thirds of residents support their introduction.

In other related news, the results of an innovative study that saw 250 schoolchildren have backpacks fitted with air quality sensors revealed that children were exposed to on average five-times-higher concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on the school run than when they were at school.