Idle Off: Clean Air Where Our Kids Learn and Play
Idle Off is parents and doctors working together to protect kids’ health by switching engines off at school and childcare drop-off zones.
Why Idle Off Matters
Every day, cars sit with their engines running while parked — this is called idling. Idling pollutes the air wherever it happens, but near schools and childcare centres it’s especially harmful, because children are right there, walking, playing, and breathing in exhaust at close range.
Children are most at risk
- Kids’ lungs are still developing, and they breathe more air relative to their body size than adults.
- Short-term exposure to traffic pollution can trigger asthma attacks and respiratory irritation, while repeated exposure can affect lung, heart, and brain development.
- An idling car can produce concentrated pollutants that linger at breathing height — leaving an engine running near a child can be equivalent to smoking a cigarette around them.
Small changes make a big difference
- Simply turning the engine off when parked for more than a few seconds reduces harmful pollution immediately.
- It’s a simple, preventive step families and schools can take to protect children’s health.
- Internationally, schools that encourage idling reduction report measurable improvements in local air quality and awareness among parents.
Every parent can help
- Idle Off is about shared responsibility and community care — not blame.
- Small, consistent actions at pick-up and drop-off times add up to cleaner, safer air for children.
- Learn more about the research and evidence supporting Idle Off: MCF anti-idling campaign paper | Climate Council: Airborne Hazard
How It Works
Idle Off is designed to be simple and it starts with one small action.
Start with the pledge
Switching your engine off when you’re parked (and it’s safe to do so) helps reduce unnecessary exhaust pollution, especially in busy places where children and families are nearby.
Take the next step as a Clean Air Rep
Some parents and carers choose to help their school or childcare centre get involved too.
A Clean Air Rep is just someone who:
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Starts a friendly conversation at their school or centre
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Shares why reducing idling helps protect children’s health
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Uses ready-made resources to make it easy and positive
You’ll have support the whole way
After signing up, you’ll get simple templates, tips, and step-by-step guidance — so you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Small actions add up. Every engine switched off helps protect the air our kids breathe.
Become a Clean Air Rep Today!
Do you have more questions?
Click HERE to scroll through Idle Off frequently asked questions.
The 'Idle Off' initiative is delivered in partnership with Parents for Climate
Acknowledgement We'd like to acknowledge Clare Walter, Hannah Morrice, Belle Workman and Rebecca Patrick from the Climate CATCH Lab at the University of Melbourne for their valuable contributions to research and engagement on anti-idling and air pollution policy that underpin the Idle Off