Millions of UK drivers who have 'stop start' button in car issued warning

Motorists and drivers are getting to grips with the true impact of their car's on/off button, which goes beyond fuel economy. Road users are awakening to the fact that stop-start and on-off buttons play a vital role in reducing emissions across the country.

CarBase experts have highlighted the significance of stop/start systems for trimming down vehicle emissions in congested areas. They've cautioned drivers against disabling this tech, given its environmental benefits.

A vehicle start-stop system, also known by terms such as SandS, micro hybrid, or micro hybrid electric vehicle (μHEV), is designed to power down and restart the engine automatically. This reduces idling time, cuts fuel use, and curbs emissions.

From CarBase, there's a clear message: "An idle car still produces harmful carbon emissions, which is completely pointless when your vehicle is stationary."

They point out, "Although you may only be stationary for a few minutes, every reduction in pollution helps. If all vehicles used this technology, it would contribute to a significant reduction in carbon emissions, something that's becoming a major issue in many towns and cities.", reports Birmingham Live.

Car insurance experts and breakdown specialists at the RAC have highlighted that cars equipped with stop-start technology will "give off fewer emissions". The RAC has dispelled common misconceptions, asserting that on-off technology does not lead to battery wear or increased fuel consumption.

They clarified: "Regardless of how somebody drives there will always be moments when their car is stationary."

"As a result, a journey using a stop-start engine will give off fewer emissions than the same journey without one."

Haynes remarked: "But the main downside is a lot of people simply don't like the sensation of their car automatically turning off, and manufacturers have identified that many owners just turn off the feature when they get in the car."

"It's something they're not used to, and don't really understand, or fully trust. But our advice has to be to always leave Stop-Start engaged if your car is equipped with it."

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