Idle Free Zone Campaign

The Ann Arbor Public Schools supports the reduction of idling on our school campuses. Through the leadership of the Freeman Environmental Youth Council, AAPS is instituting a Reduce Idling Zone at all AAPS schools starting this fall. 

 

This initiative is aimed at protecting our students’ health. Please help our students breathe cleaner air by following the guidelines below, especially at pick-up when we see vehicles waiting up to an hour before release time.

• Turn off your vehicle engine when waiting at the school drop-off and pick-up line.
  • Drop-off: When dropping off your student, if you arrive and there is a line of vehicles waiting for the first bell, please turn off your vehicle until cars proceed through the line.
  • Pick-up: If you arrive before the bell to release students and join the pick-up line, please turn off your vehicle until the line begins to move. 
• Make an effort to park and walk to pick up your student(s) instead of waiting in the drop-off and pick-up line.
• Consider sharing rides and carpooling with other families.
• Walk or bike to school, if possible.
• Use the school busing system, if eligible.

Each choice helps reduce pollution around our schools and directly improves our students’ experience on the school campus.

 

Reducing vehicle idling helps everyone:

• According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), air quality monitoring at schools has shown elevated levels of benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and other air toxins during the hour when parents are picking up their children. 
• Limiting idling in school areas, specifically the pick-up lines, can dramatically reduce children’s exposure to pollutants, according to the EPA.
• The EPA states that idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine.

• Idling your engine for just 10 minutes releases one pound of harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere (Source: Honda).
• The Ford Motor Company suggests avoiding idling more than 30 seconds because excessive idling can actually damage your engine.

Look for the signs!

Working together we can create a healthier environment for all AAPS students.