Drivers who leave their engines running while parked, often during lunch breaks at fast-food restaurants, could be wasting hundreds of pounds annually.
This practice, dubbed "McIdling," is particularly prevalent among tradespeople such as plumbers, electricians, couriers, and builders.
A new study by fleet technology specialist Lightfoot has revealed that their in-cab driver coaching devices have identified that fast-food restaurant car parks are hotspots for excessive idling.
By monitoring vehicle behavior, the devices can pinpoint where and when idling occurs, providing valuable insights into fuel consumption and emissions.
The cost of leaving a van idling
A diesel van left idling for an hour can consume approximately a litre of fuel, costing around £1.25. For drivers who idle for an hour each workday, the annual fuel cost can exceed £300. This equates to the fuel required to drive over 2,000 miles or fill up a medium van's tank four times.
Beyond the financial implications, idling also contributes to increased carbon emissions. A single hour of idling can release around 2.7kg of CO2, leading to a total of 0.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year for a driver who idles for an hour per day.
Lightfoot MD, Paul Hollick, said: “Our data shows that the fast food car park, especially at lunchtime, is a major hotspot for idling. And if it’s not stopped, it could be costing employers thousands of pounds a year while all their drivers to stop and have lunch.
Hollick added: “If a driver sits in their cab eating a Big Mac Meal, and leaves the van idling while they do it, the cost of that lunch goes up from £7.10 to £8.35 with the extra fuel used. That can really add up over the course of the year.”
Leaving your engine idling effectively adds more than £1 per day to the cost of owning your van, so next time you keep the engine on, have a think about the cost.
