Cars and Global Warming: Does Idling Your Car Affect the Environment?
Idling a car occurs when the car is stopped and the engine is still running. This can’t be avoided when drivers are stuck in traffic, but some drivers might keep the motor running when it’s unnecessary. Idling still releases pollutants that can contribute to global warming.
Traffic jams and congestion cause major gas emissions on the nation’s highways and freeways. Idling during stalled traffic could waste some 26 million tons of extra gas emissions a year, according to Global Workplace Analytics. You can’t do much about that when it becomes necessary to drive in traffic, but you can prevent idling your car at other times to help the environment.