Councils need to take action against drivers who leave their engines idling when parked, according to 72% of drivers surveyed on the subject by the RAC.
The motoring organisation found that 44% of respondents thought drivers should be warned to turn their engines off first, then fined if they refused, while 26% thought drivers should just be told without being fined, and 2% thought drivers should be fined without warning.
According to the RAC, its survey also showed the problem is widespread, with 40% of respondents saying they regularly saw drivers parked with their engine still running, and another 48% saying they saw it occasionally.
The survey also found that 55% of drivers were more concerned about the effect that vehicle emissions have on the environment and public health than they were three years ago.
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “It is clear from our research that the vast majority of drivers are far more aware of the impact of vehicle emissions than they were three years ago.
“They are conscious of pollution from parked vehicles running their engines needlessly to the point they want to see local councils taking some form of action against those who do this. At the very least they would like a council official to speak to those who do it and ask them to switch off.
“Councils already have the powers to deal with this problem, but few are currently doing so. Many of the drivers we questioned would like to see some firm action taken against offenders. This is no doubt needed to bring about a change in behaviour.
“The presence of enforcement officers and ‘no engine idling’ signs, complete with penalties, must be the next step in making our urban environments better for everyone who lives, drives and works in them.”