True or false: During the winter, the car engine should be warmed up by idling.

False.

Even in Lewiston, even on one of those lovely mornings that dip into the negative numbers, a car engine needs only a matter of a few seconds to warm up before being driven.

That is good news. Good news for the pocketbook; good news for the planet; good news for the air quality here in Lewiston; and good news for everyone’s lungs and health.

In addition to going into the atmosphere and contributing to the global warming, the harmful pollutants go into people’s lungs. The particles in air pollution aggravate asthma and other respiratory and heart disease problems.

Maine has the highest rate of adult asthma of any state in the country. One in every five households with children in Maine has at least one child with asthma.

As if saving money and protecting local air and people’s lungs are not reasons enough to stop extended idling, there have been multiple reports this winter of cars in the Boston area being stolen right out of a person’s driveway. The owners were idling their cars in the driveway while getting ready for work, leaving an easy opportunity for a passerby to steal the car.

Besides the risk of getting your vehicle stolen, idling is simply a waste of money and a waste of precious air.

Janneke Petersen, Lewiston