Think before you idle

Most Americans have been complaining bitterly about rising gasoline prices, but few seem willing to make some simple efforts to conserve gas and reduce air pollution. Even at idle engine speed, millions of gallons of gas are wasted daily by motorists.

Each day, long lines of minivans and SUVs wait near our neighborhood school to pick up children, engines idling for 15 or more minutes, no matter how mild the weather, wasting gas and polluting our air. Many of these parents and children live walking distance from school and could use the exercise (helping to solve yet many other health issues) but choose to drive a short distance, keep their engines idling and waste gas.

Then there are our numerous municipal public works, park district, ComEd, Nicor and police vehicles all idling unoccupied at curbs, sometimes for extended periods of time. In some of these cases, there is even less thought given to conserving gas, as fuel is provided at taxpayer expense.

Long lines of cars at freight railroad crossings all idling away, with few drivers giving a thought to simply turn the key when the wait is more than one minute.

Americans seem truly spoiled, as in many parts of Europe, where gas has been much more expensive for decades, parked vehicles are prohibited by law from idling the engine for more than one minute. Perhaps Americans need to think and make some simple changes, and together we can cut fuel consumption and air pollution, and perhaps even improve our health.

Klaus Schuetze

Arlington Heights