Idling Vehicles: Practices And Perceptions Among Malaysian Drivers

Although modern cars may not require long warming up, the practice of long engine idling has long been accepted by drivers as vital for various reasons, usually by old traditions. The practice, which can shorten the life of engines, in addition to wasting fuel and causing harm to the environment, is commonly found in Malaysia. However, no statistics are available on this detrimental practice, rendering it challenging to determine the essential corrective measures for society. This study aimed to examine the habits of Malaysian drivers concerning car warming-up and idling practices, with the goal of identifying potential strategies to promote a healthier environment. The study was conducted by an online survey that asked Malaysian drivers about their habits regarding car handling related to the issues highlighted. The results, which involved 419 respondents, showed that 69% of Malaysian drivers still warmed up their cars for an extended period of time. In terms of preference, about half of the respondents preferred not to idle their vehicles longer than three minutes. However, when it comes to critical situations, most respondents would not mind leaving their engines idling, such as waiting for food (83%) and passengers (64%).