A former teacher has taken to tapping on car windows in an effort to get motorists to switch off their idling engines to curb pollution.
Sheila Cochrane taught music in schools in the north-east for more than 20 years before returning to her native West Lothian to retire.
However, she came back to Elgin due to concerns that pollution from railways and factories near her home were harming her health.
The concerns come just weeks after a “climate emergency” was declared by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after school pupils across the globe went on strike due to pollution concerns.
Now Mrs Cochrane has taken to tapping on windows of vehicles in Moray to get drivers to switch off their vehicles to stop sending plumes of fumes out of their exhausts.
During one trip to London, the climate change campaigner approached nine bus drivers parked in an enclosed section at Heathrow airport due to fears she could “taste” the pollution.
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter
Mrs Cochrane said: “The response I get depends mainly on whether it is a man or a woman.
“Some people are just downright rude and swear. Some bus drivers say they are concerned they might not be able to start the engine again.
“I never noticed the sheer amount of it that was going on, people just sitting there with the engine running, until I stopped working and started walking about more. If it wasn’t invisible then people would feel a whole lot different about it.”
This week Elgin Community Council agreed to write to Moray Council to highlight concerns brought to the group.
It is estimated that an idling car engine can fill up 150 balloons a minute with fumes.
Leaving a vehicle running unnecessarily for more than 30 seconds was made illegal in 2003 and is punishable with a £20 fine – but the legislation does allow for vehicles in slow traffic, under test or defrosting in cold weather.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “All local authorities in Scotland have legal powers to request drivers of parked idling vehicles, including buses, to switch of their engines and to issue a fine if such a request is refused.”
