UK Drivers Warned Over Common Air Con Trick That Could Lead to a Fine

Sitting in a parked car with the engine running and air conditioning blasting can feel like an obvious solution during extreme heat. However, drivers using this trick on a public road risk falling foul of rules against unnecessary engine idling.

The air conditioning itself is not illegal, and penalties are not normally issued automatically. The problem arises when a combustion-engine vehicle remains stationary unnecessarily, particularly when the driver refuses an authorised request to switch it off.