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Turn it Off - Toronto's program to reduce car idling

An Effective Practice

Description

Transportation behavior has a significant effect on the environment. Idling a vehicle adds emissions to our atmosphere, which in turn deteriorates air quality and contributes to smog and climate change. Toronto’s “Turn it Off” initiative sought to encourage motorists to avoid idling their cars when picking up or dropping off at school or at public transportation terminals.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has also has a national anti-idling program and has developed an Idle-Free Zone Web site (http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/personal/idling.cfm?attr=8), with information and tools one can use to take action in reducing vehicle idling at the local level.

Goal / Mission

Toronto’s “Turn it Off” initiative sought to encourage motorists to avoid idling their cars when picking up or dropping off at school or at public transportation terminals, which in turn would improve air quality and help reduce urban contribution to climate change.

Results / Accomplishments

Toronto’s pilot project reduced the incidence of engine idling by 32 percent and the duration of idling by 73 percent.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Resources Canada (NRCan)
Primary Contact
http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/concon/concon-eng...
Topics
Community / Transportation
Environmental Health / Air
Environmental Health
Organization(s)
Resources Canada (NRCan)
Date of publication
Oct 2003
Date of implementation
2002
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Toronto
For more details
http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/att_c200...
Target Audience
Adults

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An Effective Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success and/or promise in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures of improvement in outcome of interest (i.e. increase in voter registration, not just delivery of voter registration drive) and/ or the outcome measure is increased or improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant.
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