Anti-Idling Policy - The City of Red Deer

The City of Red Deer has taken a leadership role by introducing a corporate anti-idling policy for City owned fleet vehicles. This initiative is supported by Natural Resources Canada, and goes into effect January, 2009.

This policy applies only to City of Red Deer fleet vehicles not vehicles owned by the public or privately owned vehicles driven by City of Red Deer employees.

This new policy is intended to improve air quality for residents, lower emissions produced by City vehicles and reduce City operation expenses.

For more information view the

Anti-Idling Policy Q&A.

Benefits of anti-idling practices
According to research done by Natural Resources Canada, if 100 driver’s of light duty vehicles avoided idling for 5 minutes a day, over the course of a year it would be equal to taking 8 vehicles off the road.

Some idling can’t be helped like when you’re stopped at a traffic light or stuck in traffic and some vehicles need to idle in order to operate equipment such as refrigeration units, computers or boom cranes. However, unnecessary idling is expensive and generates increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Anti-idling policy
The corporate policy was presented to Council for information on Monday December 15, 2008.

The new policy states that City vehicles are not to be left running when the operator is absent from the vehicle; City vehicles are not permitted to idle more than 3 to 5 minutes unless exempted; City vehicles are not permitted to idle near building intakes, school grounds, or groups of people; and block heaters with timers will be installed when possible as an alternative for vehicles not garaged in heated buildings.

Emergency Services vehicles and other City vehicles may idle at the scene of emergency or other non-emergency situations in order to perform the job at hand. A good example is a Transit bus idling in extreme heat or cold to maintain a reasonable compartment temperature of 18 degrees C.

City-wide anti-idling bylaw
The City is researching the possible implementation of a city-wide anti-idling bylaw and education campaign. An environmental advisory committee has been formed and is reviewing this topic among other environmental issues in 2010. The committee will conduct research and seek public input before the issue goes back to Council.