No idling: Outremont motorists are forced to turn off the engine after 10 seconds

Outremont has announced that it will adopt a new rule banning the engine of a regular gas vehicle from being left on for more than 10 seconds.

The new rules aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and apply when outside temperatures are between zero and 25 degrees Celsius.

“With this innovative measure, the toughest in Quebec, I want to send a strong message that every action counts to limit our ecological footprint,” said Laurent Desbois, mayor of Outremont.

The previous rule allowed drivers to leave their car's engine running for a maximum of three minutes.

The Montreal ensemble explained in a press release issued Monday that “contrary to popular belief, the literature confirms that turning off a vehicle's engine after 10 seconds and then restarting it does not consume more fuel than idling.”

The new rule was adopted on Tuesday at the meeting of the district maslikhat and will come into force in the next few days.

Located on the northern slopes of Mount Royal, Outremont is one of Montreal's 19 arrondissements.

– This La Presse Canadienne report was translated by CityNews