A local council in the UK recently proposed to make it an offence for drivers waiting in queues at level crossings not to stop their engines. Those not doing so would be eligible for an on the spot fine.

But does it really do any good to stop and restart your engine when waiting in a traffic queue? The UK Automobile Association recommends turning off the engine if you are likely to be stopped for more than 3 minutes. Otherwise, the inconvenience and tiny amounts of fuel involved make stopping and restarting the engine hardly worthwhile.

Motor vehicle manufacturers are acknowledging that a large proportion of urban driving is actually spent at a standstill. Several have started to introduce ’stop-start’ technology which can result in fuel savings of between 10 and 15%.

So the answer to the question is ‘yes it can be’.