Because of these considerations, agencies including the Ministry of Transport have been appealing to drivers against wasteful idling for several years. The Environment Agency took the opportunity to inaugurate its campaign during the so-called environment month of June 1997, which preceded Kyoto's December 1997 hosting of COP3--the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. The agency distributed pamphlets detailing idling's detrimental effects on the environment to concerned industrial groups and local governments, and distributed large quantities of "stop idling" stickers to be posted on trucks and taxis. In this way, the movement's scope has been increased.

Taking Root among Buses and Trucks
Bus operators have responded by wholeheartedly advancing this campaign. The bus industry has introduced a clutch-sensor device that automatically turns off and restarts an engine that has been left running over a certain length of time while the bus is stopped at a traffic light or a bus stop, or stuck in a traffic jam. Anincreasing number of buses, especially in cities, are being outfitted with this device. In Tokyo, for example, the sensor has been installed in 370 metropolitan buses; the eventual goal is to install it in all vehicles, excluding low-polluting cars, such as those that run on natural gas. A private bus company operating in Tokyo and neighboring Kanagawa Prefecture, which already runs nearly 40 sensor-fitted buses, plans to increase that figure.

At first, bus passengers complained about clumsy driving as engines seemed to stall repeatedly, but as operators have gotten the word out with stickers and other measures, understanding of the issue has begun sinking in. Furthermore, an increase has been noted in the number of bus companies that have not implemented the aforementioned device ordering drivers to stop their engines when stationary anyway. A private railway company in Kyushu is using banners displayed at its office and stickers on buses to educate drivers about turning off engines in stationary vehicles.

In the trucking industry, a scheme has taken root where the ignition key is tied to the driver's belt with a piece of string in order to keep drivers from leaving the engine running when they get out. Since June 1997, industry players have been distributing string and stickers to their employees throughout Japan, and there is a further plan to appeal to drivers by means of radio commercials.

Hopes for Cooperation by Drivers at Large
The campaign to bring the "stop idling" concept to drivers in general, not just commercial ones, is increasing in scope. Five prefectures, including Hyogo and Kyoto, and two cities have already implemented regulations to prevent wasteful idling, and other local governments are examining the possibility of doing the same. There are also shopping districts and private groups promoting this campaign on their own initiative.

In Tokyo, for example, an appeal to cut down on idling during the winter months from November to January, when air circulation is poor, began in 1995. In January 1998, Tokyo conducted the nation's first survey on idling, including all cars parked on roads or in lots in shopping areas, office, and residential districts. The metropolitan government is acting on the survey results and moving quckly to enact legislation on this problem.

However, it is extremely difficult to quantify the effect of such regulations, and to date no punishment has been meted out for an infraction of an idling-related ordinance. Even so, it seems, the invisible results of these regulations are far from negligible. For example, it has been observed in Kyoto Prefecture that the transportation industry is more willing to cooperate in curbing idling if requests are grounded in law. In Hyogo Prefecture, the benefits of not idling are coming to be understood by drivers at large, and it is hoped anti-idling education will have greater positive effects.

One private organization promoting the "stop idling" campaign is appealing to drivers of private cars to switch off their car engines if they expect to be stationary for one minute or more in gasoline-run cars, or for 20 seconds or more in diesel-run cars. Car batteries with greater capacity and highly durable motors are necessary if engines are to be turned off frequently while drivers wait for traffic lights to change or traffic jams to ease, but the private-use cars currently on the road are not designed for this type of use. In the end, the environment will benefit not only from a reduction in wasteful idling, but from common-sense driving techniques: maintaining suitable tire pressure, not carrying unnecessary loads, using the air-conditioning economically, and refraining from sudden acceleration and high speed.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Japan Information Network

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