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Drive Thru News Headlines
The truth about drive-thrus and the environment
Every day, millions of Canadians enjoy the convenience and safety of drive-thru restaurant service. Parents with infants, people with mobility challenges, seniors - for these groups the drive-thru is a vital service. It’s also a safe option for anyone traveling at night or in bad weather.
Some groups are calling for restrictions or a ban on drive-thrus based on the false assumption that more smog producing gases are emitted by vehicles in drive-thrus than would be emitted if customers parked and went into the restaurant. The facts tell a different story.
Drive-thrus and smog
Criteria Air Contaminants (CACs) are a category of vehicle emissions that contribute to air pollution and smog. Generally, when cars idle for between 10 seconds and 10 minutes they produce the same or fewer CACs than shutting down the engine and re-starting it. (Source: GW Taylor Consulting) This is because a modern automobile’s catalytic converter needs to warm up before it is able to most effectively remove CACs from the emissions. A recent study shows that there are no more CACs created by using a drive-thru than would be generated by parking in a lot and going into the restaurant. (Source: RWDI Air Inc.) From a smog perspective, it is sometimes better to use a drive-thru than to park!
Fuel consumption and CO2
Fuel is consumed and carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced whenever an internal combustion engine is running, including when the vehicle is idling at a stop light or in a drive-thru. Many Canadians are making efforts to reduce their fuel consumption and CO2 in order to save money and reduce their environmental footprint. Restaurant operators also strive to reduce service times resulting in reduced idling time at drive-thrus.
The vast majority of vehicle fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is caused by driving behaviour that is not related to drive-thrus. In fact, greenhouse gas emissions from an idling vehicle represent 1/9 of those produced by a vehicle driving 50km/hr. (source: RWDI Air Inc.) A recent study commissioned by Natural Resources Canada estimates that the total achievable reduction in consumer fuel consumption thru idling reduction is between 0.6% and 1.8%. (source: GW Taylor Consulting)
Because most people use drive-thrus as a stop-off on trips they’re already taking, the environmental benefits of targeting idling at drive-thrus pale in comparison to what drivers can achieve by taking other simple steps to reduce the environmental footprint of driving.
Be a Green Driver:
By following a few easy steps, Canadians can continue to enjoy the convenience of drive-thrus while reducing the environmental impact of their driving. (source: The Auto$mart Guide)
- Drive at the posted speed limit. Driving at 120km/hr versus 100km/hr increases your fuel consumption by about 20%.
- Accelerate and brake smoothly. “Jackrabbit” starts can increase your fuel consumption by 39% and increases some emissions by up to 500%.
- Keep your tires properly inflated. Just one tire under-inflated by 6 psi can increase your fuel consumption by 3%.
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(The) congestion that occurs in the parking lot, together with the start-up emissions and emissions from the extra travel distance to get to and from a space, all contribute to produce somewhat higher (CAC) emissions per vehicle compared to a store that has a drive-thru.
