14 motorists issued warnings after caught leaving vehicle engines on

SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency (NEA) on Wednesday issued warning letters to 14 motorists who had left the engines of their stationary vehicles on, during a three-hour exercise in Ang Mo Kio.

As part of the exercise, NEA gave out pamphlets and anti-idling car decals to 236 motorists to promote compliance with anti-idling regulations, according to The Straits Times.

The NEA found that the people who left their engines on were delivery workers, taxi drivers waiting for customers or drivers resting in their vehicles.

It is an offence to leave the engine of a stationary vehicle on, except for reasons to do with traffic conditions under Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) regulations, according to The Straits Times.

In a statement, the NEA urged the public to turn off their vehicle engines after parking, in order to prevent air pollution.

"In the last three years, NEA had taken action on over 8,000 cases of idling engines and these comprise issuance of advisories, warning letters and fines to errant drivers," it said.

According to Channel NewsAsia, members of the public who spot idling vehicles on the road should report them to NEA. They should also take note of details like the vehicle registration number, location and time of incident.

They can call the NEA hotline at 1800-CALL NEA (1800-2255 632), or choose to send in videos to contact_nea@nea.gov.sg.

Errant motorists may be fined up to a maximum of S$5,000.

stephluo@sph.com.sg