Motorists could soon face new fines as the Welsh Government looks to crack down on petrol and diesel cars causing unnecessary pollution by idling.
New guidance launched by the Welsh Government looks to improve overall public health by imposing new penalties on drivers leaving an engine running when the vehicle is stationary.
It states that idling unnecessarily contributes to air and noise pollution, while drivers are also wasting fuel and increasing their costs.
From September 30, 2026, the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 will come into force in Wales.
The 2026 Regulations to the Act will replace the current £20 fixed penalty amount for a stationary idling offence.
Local authorities will be able to charge between £75 and £150 for stationary idling offences if they believe enforcement action is necessary.
Changes are being made to “reflect the seriousness of the impacts that unnecessary vehicle emissions can have on public health”.
It will act as a stronger deterrent to offending drivers, while also allowing local authorities to set penalties to match local circumstances.
Petrol and diesel drivers could soon be slapped with fines for engine idling in Wales
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Local authorities will be able to decide whether to set a single penalty for all idling offences, or to take a strategic approach in certain areas or circumstances.
Across the UK, many councils have introduced new idling guidance in specific areas, including around nurseries, schools, hospitals and care homes.
The Welsh Government acknowledged that the second option would allow councils to impose a higher penalty in particular areas, like schools.
It added that the draft guidance is intended to “support local authorities in developing proportionate and effective approaches to tackling stationary engine idling through education, engagement and enforcement”.
Many roads outside schools across the UK are ‘idle-free zones’ | GETTY
The guidance is aligned with the Welsh Government’s Clean Air Plan for Wales, a 10-year pathway designed to achieve cleaner air around the country.
Vehicle idling was included in the Clean Air Plan for Wales, with the Government stating that “strengthened powers” would be considered to address the issue.
The original plan, which was published in August 2020, suggested that proposals would be consulted on in 2024.
Wales follows Scotland in cracking down on vehicle idling, with the Scottish Government linking air pollution to around 2,700 deaths every year.
Engine idling is already illegal across Scotland
| BRIGHTON AND HOVE CITY COUNCIL
Councils across Scotland can issue drivers with a £20 fixed penalty notice for leaving their engine running unnecessarily.
Despite this, Environmental Standards Scotland called on the Government to make the law more effective and ensure drivers are not flouting the rules because of the low risk of being fined.
Mark Roberts, chief executive of ESS, said: “Our work has concluded that the current legal framework intended to tackle engine idling – an avoidable source of air pollution – may not be acting as a strong enough deterrent.
“By laying this Improvement Report in the Scottish Parliament, we are requiring Scottish Ministers to set out clearly how they will ensure the law here works as intended and helps to reduce harmful emissions.”