Drivers urged to turn engines off

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Stuck in traffic? Turn your engine off or you could be stung with a £20 fine under a scheme being promoted by a local authority.

West Sussex County Council is looking at ways to punish drivers who leave their engines running while at a standstill.

Billed as a bid to cut pollution, the new powers may be given to traffic wardens in Shoreham.

If successful, they could be rolled out across the county.

The council said the rules might be applied where exhaust fumes from idling engines are linked to poor air quality, including in town centres and at railway crossings.

A county council spokesman said: "We would stress that this is just an investigation at this stage. If it was ever introduced, the fixed penalty would probably be £20."

"But we would hope that the vast majority of motorists would be willing to co-operate, and not leave their engines idling."

He said there would be exemptions for lorries with freezer units and others that have to keep their engines running.

In many areas of West Sussex, the council has erected signs at approaches to railway crossings urging drivers to switch off their engines when the barriers are down.

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