With today’s engine technology, it makes sense to turn off your car engine when your car is standing idle for 10 seconds.
Why? because it only takes about a thimble full of gas to start an engine with fuel injection technology, which is used in nearly every car built since about 1990. And while more frequent use of the ignition might cause some wear-and-tear, the gas you’ll save far outweighs the maintenance cost.
It may seem excessive to turn your car off at every stoplight. In some states, shutting off your engine while in street traffic is frowned upon. But there’s little debate that it’s a good idea to turn off the motor when waiting for a train or drawbridge, reading the map, picking up kids from school or waiting in line at the drive-through.
Break an old idling habit, and you can save about a tank of gas—around ten gallons—over the course of a year. But even better, you’ll cut pollution that harms our lungs and hearts—and even our brains.
We’ve long known that exposure to tailpipe pollution can trigger an asthma attack or make it harder to breathe for people with lung disease. But now we also know that pollution can actually increase the chance of developing asthma, increase risk of lung infections, interfere with the development of children’s lungs and increase risk of heart attacks and stroke. New studies also suggest that people who live near highways have greater risk of dementia.
$180. That’s the fine Oregon truck drivers could pay for allowing a heavy-duty engine to idle for more than five minutes in an hour. Why? Because diesel exhaust is especially toxic. Anti-idling fines are one solution to cut pollution; but what if all heavy duty diesel engines were as much as 95% cleaner? There’s a plan in the works in the 2017 legislative session! See more about Oregon’s Senate Bill 1008.
Earlier this month, the 2026 legislative session officially came to a close. It was a “short” session year – meaning less than a month between the Capitol doors opening and sine die. It was a sprint to get a lot done in a little amount of time.Even so, we were able to make meaningful progress in some crucial areas. At the same time, the legislature left Oregonians disappointed when it came time to take action on im
The 2026 legislative session is underway, and transportation is front and center. Right now, legislators are making decisions that will shape how Oregonians get around for years to come – whether that’s driving on safe roads and bridges, riding transit to get to work or school, or walking and biking around neighborhoods. OEC is a founder and steering committee member of
Oregon lawmakers have long worked hard to protect Oregonians from hazardous chemicals. From getting harmful chemicals out of children’s products to banning PFAS in firefighting foam, Oregonians have fought for – and won – critical protections that keep our families safe.State-level wins like these are crucial for protecting our communities from environmental harms. As things currently stand, the Toxic Sub
Oregon’s transportation system is at a crossroads. While the state recently passed emergency funding to address an immediate budget shortfall, the larger challenge remains: climate change is fundamentally altering how we must think about transportation infrastructure. At the same time, a potential referendum threatens to suspend the very funding needed to maintain safe roads and bridges. As Oregon looks toward long-term solutions, the stakes have never
In the face of federal disinvestment and attacks on landmark climate protections, Governor Tina Kotek is ensuring that Oregon continues to build a healthier, more affordable, equitable, and resilient future. Over the last two months, Governor Kotek has rolled out three new executive orders aimed at accelerating clean energy
Editor’s note: On Monday, September 29, 2o25, the transportation stopgap passed out of special session.
Happy National Week Without Driving! 🚲🚶➡️♿🚆🚍A lot has happened in transportation the past few months:
A longtime friend texted me this past weekend.“News said there’s a heatwave in Portland. I checked the weather app and it just seems like ‘normal’ Texas temperatures.” He lives on the east coast and has never visited Oregon. This is my second summer in Portland since I moved here from Austin.
It was a shock to many. The 2025 legislative session came and went without a transportation package. Across the state, Oregonians are frustrated by the outcome knowing that many of our state’s transportation needs will go unmet or be scaled back. In response, Governor Kotek just
This session, OEC staff worked on more than 77 bills to advance environmental protections, ensure statewide access to clean water, cut toxic chemicals out of our communities, and elevate safe and healthy transportation options.
We delivered real wins for Oregonians, but not every policy took root. Here’s what we passed, where the Legislature fell short, and how we’ll keep pressing forward to serve Oregon’s people, place
