Thousands of drivers have been slapped with a £130 penalty for breaking rules aimed at protecting pedestrians and vulnerable people outside schools.
The fines were issued to drivers who breached the "school streets" scheme by parking outside a school on restricted streets during drop-off and pick-up times while leaving the engine running.
The scheme was launched across the UK in 2014 with several local authorities choosing to initiate restrictions in their boroughs.
The restrictions hope to crack down on the harmful car emissions released during peak times with drivers facing hefty penalties for ignoring the rules.
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Drivers can be issued £130 penalties for leaving engines on during school drop-offs
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The measures have been growing in popularity over the years with East Lothian Council in Scotland being the first to enforce the restrictions in2014followed by the City of Edinburgh in 2015.
Since then, it has expanded to include the London Borough of Camden as well as Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Essex, Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, York, Brighton, Reading and Stoke-on-Trent.
According to reports, roughly 400,000 motorists have been fined since 2022. The initial penalty of £130 can be halved if paid within two weeks.
School Streets shared: "It is a sad reality that up and down the country, roads around schools have become plagued with a surge of traffic concentrated over a 50-minute period at drop off and pick up times."
School run-related traffic accounts for a quarter of cars on the road and adds 254,000 vehicles a day in London alone, the scheme claimed. But this can result in a rise in the risks of collisions with vulnerable road users and other motorists, unlawful parking, traffic jams and road rage.
Last year, Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood explained that the measures help children enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that come with walking, cycling or scooting to school.
The Labour MP's comment follows the rollout of new School Streets guidance which aims to help councils have more power to introduce School Street schemes.
Meanwhile, Chris Boardman, National Active Travel Commissioner, said: "Through our new School Streets guidance, we will be able to better design activity into our neighbourhoods and help make life happier and healthier for future generations, all while reducing congestion on the roads during school run times for residents and businesses – it's win-win for everyone."
Local authorities in the UK have been given powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act to monitor traffic and restrict access to help aid the scheme.
The need for regulation comes after Department of Transport data found that 14 per cent of children killed on UK roads in 2018 were in accidents between the morning school run (7am to 9am) and 23 per cent occurring after school between 3pm and 5pm.
While more councils are taking advantage of the new enforcement powers, Essex County Council has remained against the "school street" policy.
A spokesperson for Essex County Council told The Telegraph: "Since 2022, we have consulted with residents, schools and parents to make Sawyers Hall Lane safer, greener and healthier for those walking and cycling to school.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Local authorities introduced fines to improve air quality near schools
GETTY"Measures have included extended footways, pencil-shaped bollards, a zebra-crossing refresh, 20mph signage, cutting vegetation, tactile crossing points, a raised table, pedestrian guard railing and alternative parking options."
Southend-on-Sea City Council revealed in January that it would look at introducing new fines for drivers caught idling and leaving engines near schools.
The council document explained how idling is a big source of local air pollution with the campaign hoping to "make people think about the importance of clean air and the impact that air pollution has on our health".
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