Summit County Urges Residents to Reduce Idling

A car idling outside a building in Park City. Photo: TownLift // Bailey Edelstein

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah. —Summit County urges residents to reduce their idling time by two minutes a day for the sake of keeping the mountain air clean and healthy, especially in the winter months. 

While the direct effects of air pollution aren’t visible in Summit County, unlike in Salt Lake City’s valley, the impact of idling is the same. If each vehicle traveling from Summit County to another county reduced idling by just two minutes each day, it would save more than a combined 74,000 gallons of gas and 661 metric tons of CO2 from being released each year, according to a Summit County news release. 

If the environmental effects aren’t reason enough, the vehicle idling ordinance, stating that a driver can be cited and fined after three infractions, might be more compelling. 

Other ways to reduce emissions include carpooling, using public transit, and driving during off-peak hours whenever possible. 

“Turn your key, be idle free.”