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Use common sense

Sean Irving (Letters, June 6, page 8) is right: Many people leave their car engines running unnecessarily, while running errands or waiting, and this is bad for everyone's health. However, he doesn't address the causes, nor does he suggest any practical solutions.

Taiwan is a warm country, and in a parked car under the sun it can get very hot, indeed -- so hot that children left in kindergarten minibuses have died.

Many people leave their engines running so they can use the air conditioning. If I'm waiting in my car with my infant son, I often do this. If it were possible to use the air conditioning without having the engine on, I would certainly do so. Perhaps the government should require all new cars to have this feature.

Also, leaving a car engine running when no one is in the driver's seat could be made a traffic offense, as I believe it is in the UK. But the authorities seem unable or unwilling to properly enforce existing traffic laws, so adding another rule would probably be a waste of time.

Because of the short distances, high population density and stop-start-stop nature of driving here, Taiwan is ideal for electric or hybrid vehicles. I haven't heard of the government doing anything to encourage people to buy these kinds of cars. If it isn't, it should. If it is, it should do more, or do it better.

Steven Crook
Tainan County

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