Other Answers (21)

• I%26#039;ve started turning off the engine if I have to wait more than a a few seconds. Don%26#039;t do it in traffic, it%26#039;s not safe, unless it%26#039;s a really bad sitting still kind of jam.
  
  This problem was identified and a solution proposed 20 years ago - the direct injection engine - they start instantly. It would work like a golf cart. When you stop the engine stops. When you press on the gas the engine starts. Not real elegant, but as we know, it%26#039;s more important to have power and performance and show off and beat the next guy to the traffic light.
  
  As Dana says, the correct hybrid technology solves the whole problem, the engine doesn%26#039;t even run at low speeds and the electric motor has 100% torque all the time.
  
  Alas, we wouldn%26#039;t fix the problem for environmental reasons, we had to wait for (some dollar per gallon figure) to make it %26quot;worthwhile%26quot;. I personally don%26#039;t think $4 will do it. Maybe $8.
• In New Jersey, it%26#039;s actually the law. While dropping off or picking up kids from school, your suppose to turn off the engine (seperate laws for gas, or diesel vehicles.)
  
  Of course, it%26#039;s difficult on days like today when you have 3 other kids in car, and it%26#039;s 95 plus degrees, with 95 percent humidity outside, and they%26#039;ve closed the school early due to the excessive heat.
• I usually turn off the engine if it%26#039;s going to be a long wait, but I don%26#039;t want the government to force us to do such things. Currently there%26#039;s talk of ticketing people who idle their cars for too long in California. That%26#039;s crazy, but typical of government intervention, especially in CA, where it%26#039;s fashionable to be behind the times and very socialist. (I think they still live in the 60%26#039;s sometimes.)
  
  Why are we so quick to let the government rule every aspect of our lives? What has happened to us that we don%26#039;t respect our freedom anymore?
• People should be forced to turn their cars off when not in gear.
  
  We should force people to turn off their engines when in traffic and maybe every time they hit a red light.
  
  Listen to yourselves, are you all freaking nuts?
  
  If you want to turn your engine off any time or place feel free but I own the car and the gas that is in it so who the hell are any of you to tell me what I can and can%26#039;t do?
  
  Get a life and leave the sane people alone.
• I heard about this from my AP environmental science teacher. I told my mom that it is better to turn off the car if she is waiting for someone, but she didn%26#039;t believe me. I personally don%26#039;t eat fast food much, but on the occasion that I do, I always go inside and leave my car parked. I personally think that there shouldn%26#039;t be any drive through windows. I mean, how hard is it to get out of a car and walk ten feet to get food. How lazy can you be?
• I don%26#039;t use drive through, the only time I %26quot;drive while standing still%26quot; are in traffic jams and like heck am I turning my engine off for that.
  
  Actually, Dana, in St. Paul Minnesota (where I live) you cannot idle your car for more than 3 minutes, it%26#039;s civil disobedience.
• Wow, thanks for pointing this out. I did a search and found other sources agree - idling for more than 10 seconds actually uses more fuel than restarting the engine. Somebody told me once it was more like 15 minutes, and I didn%26#039;t think to look it up.
• Right, except that when you%26#039;re in line, you have to move up every few seconds - are you suggesting that we shut the engine off and turn it back on that frequently? And there%26#039;s also the starter, the battery.....
• So: If I idle my car for 5 minutes, I burn 2.5 miles worth of gasoline....I have a lead foot, so I normally get 20-25 miles to the gallon (let%26#039;s go with 20). That%26#039;s an eighth of a gallon of gas, or about fifty cents.....I%26#039;ll send you a roll of quarters.