Students work to curb vehicle idling
Environmental group wants 10-second idling limit for vehicles

Third-graders at Red Bank Primary School work on the "No Idling" campaign.

RED BANK - Third-graders at the Red Bank Primary School are putting their newly acquired "persuasive writing" skills gained from their language arts class to good use. They are applying their newly acquired skills to stop unnecessary vehicle idling on school grounds.

The students have spoken with parents and bus drivers about the harm idling automobile and bus engines cause. They also put up "no idling" signs along the curb, and handed out "no idling" fliers, personalized letters and essays to parents and bus drivers. Cookies were given to drivers as a sign of thanks to those agreeing to comply.

"Parents and bus drivers have responded very positively to the message by turning off their engines," said Richard Cohen, principal of the Red Bank Primary School. "Most importantly, our students are learning while at the same time [they] feel they are making a difference in their community and the world."

"Having our children in leadership roles as early as third grade is a powerful statement about their character and their understanding of civic responsibility," stated Laura C. Morana, superintendent of the Red Bank Borough public schools. "Our district is well represented by our students' efforts. I support them and the wonderful approach taken to enhance their literacy development."

The Red Bank Primary School conducted this project in collaboration with the N.J. Environmental Federation's (NJEF) statewide Idle Free New Jersey campaign. According to New Jersey law, the idling limit is three minutes for diesel (trucks, school buses, etc.) and gasoline-powered vehicles (cars, light trucks, etc.).

NJEF's campaign encourages schools, municipalities, businesses and individuals to go beyond the law and adopt 10- second idling limits in "idling hot spots" such as schools, parking lots and drivethroughs.

"The best way to warm up your vehicle is to drive it," said Amy Goldsmith, NJEF state director, whose children attend the Red Bank primary and middle schools. "Idling for more than 10 seconds actually uses more fuel than restarting the engine. Tests show no more than 30 seconds is needed to circulate engine oil.

"In addition, 10 minutes of idling, the typical length of time a parent or bus waits for the kids to be dismissed, is the gas consumption equivalent of driving five miles," continued Goldsmith. "With the turn of an ignition key, you can counter global warming, reduce expensive gas costs and improve air quality and public health. It's that easy."

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), vehicle-related air pollution can cause asthma and other respiratory problems and allergies, especially in children, who breathe at a faster rate than adults.

According to the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), up to 25 percent of the state's school-age children are asthmatic - the No. 1 leading cause of school absenteeism and increased visits to the emergency room on hot summer days.

Vehicles also release potent greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

"A healthy school environment means healthy children, teachers and staff," concluded Morana. "That means more time can be spent learning in the classroom and playing during recess."

NJEF has been working with several towns to adopt Idle Free New Jersey resolutions. The resolution calls for broad education of the public about the health, environmental and economic impacts of vehicle idling, ways to reduce vehicle idling, and requires the maintenance of municipal vehicles to eliminate any visible exhaust and harmful air pollution. The resolution also encourages drivers to turn their vehicle's engine off if they are idling more than 10 seconds.

At Neff 's request, the Red Bank Borough School District switched to green cleaning practices in 2004. The district took the initiative to put a comprehensive

recycling program in place this year.

The Borough Council, at the recommendation of the Environmental Commission, recently adopted Neff 's model Pesticide Free Zone resolution for its parks and recreation areas.

The New Jersey Environmental Federation (NJEF) is a nonprofit whose mission is to protect natural resources and clean up pollution in New Jersey. NJEF is the New Jersey chapter of Clean Water Action. For more information, contact NJEF at (732) 280-8988 or visit www.cleanwateraction.org/njef.