Idling vehicles waste money and emit gasses and carcinogens that can harm people and the environment. To limit these impacts, consider issuing no-idling policies for vehicles on the stadium grounds and parking lots. The sample policy below, adapted from the EPA, provides a useful starting point for writing your own policy.

Less idling means less wasted fuel, which can save your team money. A six cylinder diesel vehicle that idles for one hour a day wastes over $1600 worth of fuel over the course of a year, with gas at $2.50/gallon.

This policy applies to the operation of any team vehicle operating on or off team property.

A common source of harmful air pollution is exhaust from diesel and internal combustion engines. Exhaust is generated by concentrations of stationary or slow-moving vehicles, such as is found in loading zones, parking lots, and taxi and bus stops. Exhaust from idling vehicles can accumulate and pose a health risk to fans, drivers and the community at large. Exposure to exhaust can cause lung damage and respiratory problems. Exhaust also exacerbates asthma and existing allergies, and long-term exposure is thought to increase the risk of lung cancer. Idling vehicles also waste fuel and financial resources, and contribute to global warming. Idling is bad for the environment and bad for the bottom line.

Minimized idling time in all aspects facility vehicle operation.

1. When drivers arrive at loading or unloading areas to drop off or pick up passengers, they should turn off their vehicles as soon as possible to eliminate idling time and reduce harmful emissions. Vehicles should not be restarted until they are ready to depart and there is a clear path to exit the pick-up area. Exceptions include conditions that would compromise passenger safety, such as:
1. Extreme weather conditions
2. Idling in traffic
2. At bus and facility vehicle depots, limit the idling time during early morning warm-up to what is recommended by the manufacturer (generally 3-5 minutes) in all but the coldest weather.
3. Vehicles should not idle while waiting for fans during events.
4. All service delivery vehicles should turn off the engines while making deliveries to the facility.
5. All drivers of any team vehicle should receive a copy of this bulletin and have it discussed with them at the beginning of every year.

Idling cars and trucks emit a number of harmful air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and particulate matter. These pollutants are responsible for a wide range of environmental and health problems, including global warming, smog, acid, rain, and respiratory illnesses. In addition, pollutants in diesel emissions can cause cancer. In San Francisco, for example, the EPA has found that air toxins are responsible for an additional 2,600 cases of cancer for every one million people in the city. Some 90 percent of this risk is the result of diesel. By reducing idling at your stadium, you reduce these health and environmental risks.

Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency
EPA – School Bus Idling
Anti-idling savings calculator
Federal Highway Administration - Idling