News

Village Employees Create Guidelines for Reduction in Idling

In a step to reduce the effects of idling in our community, the Village of Arlington Heights has created Idle Reduction Guidelines for employees using Village vehicles. The guidelines are part of the Village’s efforts to promote the Idle Free Arlington educational campaign approved by the Village Board earlier this year. 

The goal of implementing these guidelines is to increase employees’ awareness that a reduction of idling would improve overall air quality as well as result in the reduction of fuel waste, improvement in engine performance and decrease in maintenance needs. 

An Employee Committee worked on the guidelines to identify practices that could be used to discourage unnecessary idling of Village vehicles. The Committee also determined that the reduction guidelines may not apply in situations where it is necessary to keep a vehicle running during extreme weather conditions or specific work-related tasks.   

Employees operating Village vehicles have been asked to follow these techniques to minimize idling emissions:

• As a general rule, turn off the vehicle when it is not moving (does not apply to traffic signals or stop signs) or when not performing essential work.
• Turn off a vehicle at railroad crossings when the gates are down.
• Turn off a vehicle when waiting to drop off or pick up passengers.
• Turn off vehicle when making a delivery or pick up.
• Limit warm-up and cool-down periods.

The Idle Reduction Guidelines do not apply to:

• Emergency Situations for the duration needed.
• During a non-emergency response when vehicles must idle in order to perform the tasks needed and to keep necessary equipment operational during the response.
• Emergency Service vehicles which contain contents sensitive to extreme heat or cold.
• Vehicles providing emergency lighting.
• Vehicles when being tested, serviced, repaired or being analyzed for diagnostic purposes.
• Vehicles when ensuring the health and safety of passengers (including the Police Department’s K-9 units.)
• Difficulty restarting due to mechanical problems or potential equipment failure.
• Running of radar at a set location or working traffic enforcement details.
• Inclement weather situations – temperature below 40° or above 80°.
• A vehicle needing to defrost its windshield in order to drive safely.

The Village hopes that employees’ practice of idling less while using Village vehicles will encourage residents to consider the same practices as a way to benefit the entire community. Here's how you can participate in Idle Free Arlington.