TORONTO - Esso is launching an information campaign in the Greater Toronto Area to tell its car wash customers to cut down on idling while in line. The idea is to encourage customers to reduce smog-forming emissions that build up as a result of idling.

According to Natural Resources Canada, idling for more than 10 seconds, except in traffic, wastes money and causes damage to the environment. Canadian drivers idle their cars for an average of five to 10 minutes a day and car wash line-ups, in particular, are obvious venues for idling.

"In late winter and early spring, when the roads are particularly messy,our car wash line-ups are very long and people tend to idle while waiting," said Tanya Vetter, national car wash manager with Esso. "The goal of this campaign is to encourage customers to turn off their engines in line, particularly now that the weather is warming up."

Research has shown that if Canadians avoided idling their cars for just five minutes every day for a year, it could prevent more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide and other toxic substances from entering the atmosphere. If every driver of a car or light truck reduced idling time by just five minutes a day, Canadians would save 1.6 million litres of gasoline - and more than $1 million in fuel costs each day.

"At Esso, we are committed to using energy as efficiently as possible in all our operations," said Cindy Christopher, manager, safety, health and environment with Imperial Oil. "We strongly support and encourage our customers to do the same. It not only spares the air, it's easier on the pocketbook."

For tips on reducing idling, or to start an anti-idling campaign in your community, contact Natural Resources Canada at 1-800-387-2000 or visit their website at: oee.nrcan.gc.ca

Imperial Oil is one of Canada's largest corporations and has been a leading member of the country's petroleum industry for 125 years. Imperial is the country's largest refiner and marketer of petroleum products - sold primarily under the Esso and Mobil brands - with a coast-to-coast supply network that includes 2,100 gasoline retail outlets.

For further information: Imperial Oil Public Affairs, (416) 968-4875

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