Stationary Vehicle Engine Idling: Guidance to local authorities

Number: WG55272

Welsh Government Consultation Document

Stationary Vehicle Engine Idling: Guidance to local authorities

Date of issue: 11 September 2026
Action required: Responses by 4 December 2026

This consultation welcomes your views on proposed guidance to local authorities on developing action to tackle stationary engine idling.  

The closing date for responses is [insert date]. Please either respond using the online form or complete the enclosed consultation response form and send it to any of the following:

Email:    airqualitypolicy@gov.wales

Post:   

Air Quality Policy 
Environmental Protection Division
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ

Large print, Braille and alternative language versions of this document are available on request.

For further information:

Environmental Protection Division
Welsh Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
Email: AirQualityPolicy@gov.wales.

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Welsh Government
Cathays Park
CARDIFF
CF10 3NQ
e-mail: dataprotectionofficer@gov.wales 

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Tel: 0303 123 1113
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Stationary engine idling, the practice of leaving an engine running when a vehicle is not moving, is an unnecessary contributor to air pollution and noise. It also wastes fuel and increases costs to drivers.

Idling can be a particular concern in some locations, such as outside schools or healthcare settings where vulnerable people, including children, young people, and older people may be disproportionately exposed to vehicle emissions. In response to this in 2026 the previous Welsh Government introduced legislation that increased the fixed penalty amount for stationary idling offences and enabled enforcement to be targeted at known ‘hotspots’ and where idling would affect the most vulnerable people of Wales.

We are undertaking a range of actions to raise awareness of the potential harms associated with stationary engine idling and to discourage the practice of idling when vehicles are stopped. This includes national communication campaigns and guidance to support local authorities in developing robust local behaviour change strategies.

Our approach prioritises supporting and encouraging drivers to switch off their engines through increased awareness, voluntary compliance and clear messaging about the benefits of doing so. Focusing on prevention through awareness-raising and behaviour-change strategies can help to reduce air pollution and noise.

Our aim is to protect public health and reduce air pollution, particularly in areas where vulnerable people are most exposed, such as around schools, care homes, and healthcare settings.

We recognise that local authorities need appropriate tools to take enforcement action when this is necessary. On 30 September 2026 the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (“the 2026 Regulations”) will come into force.

The 2026 Regulations amend the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Wales) Regulations 2003 by replacing the current £20 fixed penalty amount for a stationary idling offence with a penalty range of £75 - £150 for stationary idling offences. The increased penalty range reflects the seriousness of the impacts that unnecessary vehicle emissions can have on public health and is intended to provide a greater deterrence to offending while giving local authorities flexibility to set penalties that reflect local circumstances.

The 2026 Regulations provide local authorities with the power to decide to either set a single penalty (from within the range) for all idling offences in their area, or to take a more strategic approach and link penalty amount to the circumstance in which the offence occurred. This second options means local authorities will, for the first time ever in Wales, have the ability to decide that a higher penalty amount should apply where idling offences are committed in specific areas such as outside schools.

It remains the case that fixed penalty notices may only be issued in respect of emissions.

However, the Welsh Government is mindful of the potential impacts that noise pollution can also have on the well-being of the people of Wales.

As such this draft guidance is intended to support local authorities in developing proportionate and effective approaches to tackling stationary engine idling through education, engagement and enforcement.

Through this consultation we welcome views on the draft guidance.

The Welsh Government national strategy, Clean Air Plan for Wales: Healthy Air, Healthy Wales, set out a 10-year pathway to achieving cleaner air. The actions were intended to tackle well-known sources of air pollution such as transport, industry (including agriculture), and emissions from homes and businesses.

The previous Welsh Government’s Programme for Government for 2021 to 2026 reiterated the Welsh Government’s commitment at the time to introduce a Clean Air Act for Wales, consistent with World Health Organization (“WHO”) guidance.  

The commitment to legislate set out within that Programme for Government was fulfilled by the publication of the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024 (“the 2024 Act”), which provides a range of measures to contribute to improvements in the quality of the air environment in Wales. The 2024 Act was a crucial part of the package of measures set out in the Clean Air Plan and built on existing legislation in this area.

Transport emissions are responsible for a significant proportion of air pollution, including oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) which have an adverse impact on human health. Llwybr Newydd: the Wales Transport Strategy 2021 recognised the importance of our transport infrastructure in connecting people and enabling economic growth. Improving air quality and reducing environmental noise associated with transport are an important focus of action.

The Noise and soundscape plan for Wales 2023 to 2028 provides an approach to supporting a healthy sound environment. The document includes an ambition for appropriate soundscapes, which means the right sound environment in the right time and place. Planning Policy Wales (PPW), sets out land use planning policies, acknowledges the role of the planning system in helping reduce population exposure to air and noise pollution.

The 2023 Statement of Policy Intent (SoPI) for the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill set out the intention to use existing guidance -making powers in section 88(1) of the Environment Act 1995 to issue stationary idling guidance to local authorities. The SoPI stated that guidance would be intended to support “local authorities on exercising their anti-idling functions to tackle the impacts of vehicle idling on the air environment”.

The draft guidance in this consultation has two functions. It provides general advice and examples to local authorities on how they can develop and deliver local communications and initiatives to discourage stationary engine idling. It also provides advice on the use of enforcement powers provided for in the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Wales) Regulations 2003 (as amended by the 2026 Regulations).

The draft guidance explains what stationary idling is, discusses how stationary idling contributes to air pollution and noise and the circumstances needed for it to be considered an offence. It explores the typical locations and reasons for stationary idling, and contains useful reference material highlighting existing campaigns, toolkits, and examples of positive anti-idling initiatives from around the UK which may be useful when local authorities are considering the approach for their locality.

The annexes include links to further helpful resources, a sample statement for businesses to use, and templates for school campaigns. Also included is a form seeking an annual return from local authorities on the fixed penalties they have issued in the prior year. There is no duty on local authorities to complete this and doing so is entirely voluntary. However, the data will be used to understand how enforcement powers are being used in practice.

We want to gather views on the proposed guidance to local authorities to ensure that it provides sufficiently rounded and comprehensive advice on tackling local idling problems.

Views are welcomed from both drivers and non-drivers. We would be particularly interested to hear from local authorities, and civil enforcement operatives and bodies, as well as organisations with an interest in tackling airborne pollution for the improvement of public health.

We are seeking views to the following questions. If you have any suggestions on how to improve the guidance, please include these in the relevant questions below.

Responses may be submitted through our online form or by downloading a Word version of the response form for completion. Respondents are also invited to use the comments sections to provide suggestions on how the guidance could be improved. Completed response forms may be emailed to airqualitypolicy@gov.wales.

About you

Question 1a

Please indicate the capacity in which you are completing this questionnaire. You may select more than one option.

• Driver
• Non-driver
• Member of the public
• Local authority officer
• Enforcement officer
• School/education organisation
• Health/NHS organisation
• Business/fleet operator
• Community/voluntary/third sector organisation (please specify nature of organisation)
• Other (please specify)

Question 1b

If you selected ‘Other’, please use the space below to specify.

Suitability of the advice

Question 2a

To what extent do you agree that the draft guidance provides comprehensive advice covering all relevant aspects of tackling idling problems?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree 
• Strongly disagree

Question 2b

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Question 3a

To what extent do you agree that the draft guidance will enable a consistent approach to tackling idling across Wales?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree 
• Strongly disagree

Question 3b

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Clarity and approach

Question 4a

To what extent do you agree that the draft guidance encourages a targeted and proportionate approach to tackling idling problems. 

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree 
• Strongly disagree

Question 4b

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Question 5a

To what extent do you agree that the draft guidance clearly distinguishes between when idling is an offence and when it is not?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree 
• Strongly disagree

Question 5b

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Implementation and delivery

Question 6a

To what extent do you agree that the draft guidance contains details of resources and tools to help tackle idling that are helpful?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree 
• Strongly disagree

Question 6b

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Question 7a

To what extent do you agree that the advice under the heading ‘Campaign approaches and messaging’ is likely to be effective?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree 
• Strongly disagree

Question 7b

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Question 8a

To what extent do you agree that the draft guidance provides comprehensive advice and examples that could be used to encourage behaviour change?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree 
• Strongly disagree

Question 8b

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Enforcement

Question 9a

To what extent do you agree that the draft guidance provides useful guidance for local authorities when using their enforcement powers?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree 
• Strongly disagree

Question 9b

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Question 10a

To what extent do you agree that the draft guidance clearly explains the enforcement process?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree 
• Strongly disagree

Question 10b

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Question 11a

To what extent do you agree that enforcement should play a role in a robust local authority approach to tackling stationary idling?

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Neither agree or disagree
• Disagree 
• Strongly disagree

Question 11b

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Structure

Question 12a

This guidance has been developed for local authorities and contains a mixture of advice on approaches to awareness-raising and behaviour change and statutory guidance on enforcement. Do you think the advice elements of this guidance could be useful for a wider audience? 

• Yes
• No
• Not sure

Question 12b

Please use the space below to explain your answer, including which other audiences you think it would be useful for.

Question 13a

Do you agree that the balance between awareness-raising, behaviour change and enforcement is appropriate with the guidance?

• Yes
• No
• Not sure

Question 13b

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Welsh language

Question 14

What, in your opinion, would be the likely effects of the guidance and advice on the Welsh language? We are particularly interested in any likely effects on the impact on opportunities to use the Welsh language and on not treating the Welsh language less favourably than English. 
Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Question 15

In your opinion, could the draft guidance or advice be formulated differently or changed so as to:

• increase positive effects on the use of the Welsh language and ensure it is treated no less favourably than English; and/or
• mitigate any negative effects on the use of the Welsh language and ensure it is treated no less favourably than English?

Please use the space below to explain your answer.

Other

Question 16

We have asked a number of specific questions. If you have any other relevant comments on the draft guidance and advice for tackling stationary idling, please use this space to provide them. We would be interested to know where the guidance could be improved.

This consultation is open to all, and Welsh Government would like to hear from anyone who wishes to offer views on the draft guidance.

Thank you for taking the time to share your views on this matter.