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WITH MOST TYPICAL CARS, THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM CEASES TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. 06:12, 01 Jun 2025 Drivers face a £80 fine for a hot weather mistake many are
unaware of. With most typical cars, the air conditioning system ceases to operate properly when the engine is turned off. Try to consider how long you are going to be stationary in traffic.
The RAC recommends that motorists turn off their engines if they don’t think they’ll move for around two minutes. Graham Conway, spokesperson for Select Car Leasing, said: “You can go from
feeling crisp and cool to clammy and uncomfortable in a matter of minutes, particularly during the spring and summer months. READ MORE LLOYDS BANK BRINGS IN BIG CHANGE AND ANYONE WHO IS IN A
'COUPLE' WILL BENEFIT “But while it might be tempting to leave the engine idling while you're parked, particularly if a friend or family member has just nipped to the shops
or if you have a young child asleep in the back, it’s a bad habit we all need to be mindful of. Article continues below “Most motorists take a dim view of those who unnecessarily idle their
engines and you risk a stern word from passersby. “What’s more, it’s also an offence under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 act which could see you hit with a fine.”
The RAC said: “It’s important to note that fines are imposed only if a motorist refuses to switch off their engine when asked to do so by an authorised person.” Article continues below Most
modern vehicles have ‘stop-start’ systems fitted that automatically switch off the engine when the vehicle is stationary and restart it as soon as the accelerator is pressed. The RAC said:
"Manufacturers allow this feature to be manually switched off, but we urge motorists not to do this. "There is no risk to your vehicle in allowing this feature to be left on. For
vehicles without ‘stop-start’ it’s fine to turn off your engine, but you should try to avoid doing this repeatedly in a short space of time. "In addition, older vehicles (around eight
years old) and vehicles with older batteries (around five years old) may struggle if started too often in a short space of time."