Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

One of nursery staff left their car running

316 replies

EnglishBrits · 06/05/2026 09:07

Whilst she went into side to drop of her children. It was off nursery premises and she works part time and children attend the nursery as well.

Aibu to report it? She does it daily.

OP posts:
Ironplate · 06/05/2026 16:08

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 16:06

How many toddlers have been killed by unattended idling cars .... I can guarantee more toddlers ha have been killed whilst being driven in a car....

Edited
Show quote history

Who would know how many asthma attacks are caused by the high levels of pollution caused by cars idling outside schools? But we do know it's some, and increasing, whilst, thank fully RTA deaths are reducing.

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 16:06

BleedinglyObvious · 06/05/2026 16:05

Fat lot of use that would be if the unattended car killed a toddler or two.

Show quote history

How many toddlers have been killed by unattended idling cars .... I can guarantee more toddlers ha have been killed whilst being driven in a car....

Flamingojune · 06/05/2026 16:05

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 15:21

There's loads of illegal things we do, but we don't call the police...

Show quote history

Ooh like what?

BleedinglyObvious · 06/05/2026 16:05

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 16:03

It was more dangerous for her to drive to the nursery and pull up than it was to leave it idling...

Show quote history

Fat lot of use that would be if the unattended car killed a toddler or two.

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 16:03

BleedinglyObvious · 06/05/2026 15:28

They might given that it's somewhere where the safety of small children is compromised.

Edited
Show quote history

It was more dangerous for her to drive to the nursery and pull up than it was to leave it idling...

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 16:01

People are such little snitches.... I'll bet they were gleefully reporting neighbours for daring to go for a second walk in COVID.

You all break driving regulations.... almost guaranteed!

I'll bet you've parked the wrong way overnight, beeped your horn while stationary, flashed lights to say thanks/after you etc

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 15:56

Manxexile · 06/05/2026 15:45

Breach of s107 The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

Show quote history

Oh so presumably you go round reporting all your neighbours and every car you pass that's parked in the road at night that's facing the direction of traffic.

And I assume you always ensure you never park overnight facing direction of traffic, and naturally if that toad is over a 30 limit, you also keep your lights on....

SnappyUmberLion · 06/05/2026 15:42

Ironplate · 06/05/2026 15:23

I'm really surprised how many people think this is a non issue. It is illegal and there has been a (apparently ineffective) campaign about the way idling cars increase polution levels around schools.

I probably wouldn't, because I'm chicken, and for fear of responses similar to these, but she and the nursery really ought to be made aware of the dangers and asked to take some action.

Motorists seem to be especially resistant to anything which restricts their freedom, or controls how they operate their vehicle, no matter how minor or inconsequential, or how beneficial it might be to others. People treat their cars as an extension of their personality, rather than simply a means of transport.

BleedinglyObvious · 06/05/2026 15:28

daffodilandtulip · 06/05/2026 15:22

Oh quite. The police would not care about this. And I wouldn’t care enough to report it (any of them).

Show quote history

They might given that it's somewhere where the safety of small children is compromised.

MrsJeanLuc · 06/05/2026 15:27

B1anche · 06/05/2026 14:35

The pump would be right next to the car. So if she's paying at the pump, she's hardly leaving her kids in the car!

Show quote history

Oh, sorry, I didn't read that properly. 😌

Ironplate · 06/05/2026 15:23

I'm really surprised how many people think this is a non issue. It is illegal and there has been a (apparently ineffective) campaign about the way idling cars increase polution levels around schools.

I probably wouldn't, because I'm chicken, and for fear of responses similar to these, but she and the nursery really ought to be made aware of the dangers and asked to take some action.

daffodilandtulip · 06/05/2026 15:22

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 15:21

There's loads of illegal things we do, but we don't call the police...

Show quote history

Oh quite. The police would not care about this. And I wouldn’t care enough to report it (any of them).

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 15:21

daffodilandtulip · 06/05/2026 15:18

I’d say I can’t believe how many people don’t know this is illegal, but then I think of how many people piss me off on the daily, by idling outside my house…

There's loads of illegal things we do, but we don't call the police...

daffodilandtulip · 06/05/2026 15:18

I’d say I can’t believe how many people don’t know this is illegal, but then I think of how many people piss me off on the daily, by idling outside my house…

vickylou78 · 06/05/2026 15:17

You just said it was off nursery premises.

vickylou78 · 06/05/2026 15:16

EnglishBrits · 06/05/2026 13:28

Of course she was on a public road

Show quote history

I don't think you said that in the Op?

AgnesMcDoo · 06/05/2026 15:16

Kitt1 · 06/05/2026 14:13

It’s illegal to leave the engine running with no-one responsible sat in the car. As in ‘a criminal offence’.

I’m really surprised so many of you are completely unaware of this?

Yes, report her to the police as she’s being very irresponsible. Accidents do happen otherwise no one would need car insurance. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 🤷🏻‍♀️

Edited

For which the enforcement is a council officer asking you to turn your engine off.

The police will not get involved in this.

AgnesMcDoo · 06/05/2026 15:12

Withthe2Ls · 06/05/2026 14:05

Ah fair enough, my 3 local all have pay at pump so I assumed it was a common thing. Never been in that situation with my children before but in answer to the previous poster it that was the case the yes I would take them in rather than leave them in the car and there wasn’t a pay at the pump drivable before I ran out of fuel.

Show quote history

Children shouldn’t be in a forecourt - especially not 3 at a time. Far safer for everyone to leave them in the car.

AgnesMcDoo · 06/05/2026 15:11

VickyEadieofThigh · 06/05/2026 14:03

ooh, I dunno - social workers have bog-all to do and are grateful to be given reports like this...🙄

Show quote history

True maybe they would appreciate having something to fill their day. 😳

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 15:10

Withthe2Ls · 06/05/2026 14:25

Totally fair, as you should if that works best for you! We are all just doing our best. I have a paramedic husband who has told me too many horror stories over the years. I’m forever telling him as proud of him as I am it makes parenting harder 😂

Show quote history

How many incidents has he had to attend to in a petrol forecourt where children were inside and got hurt in the car when parent went to pay for petrol?

BleedinglyObvious · 06/05/2026 15:06

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 15:04

But what will this achieve.... Nothing...

Show quote history

It might. Moaning about it here probably won't.

Tekknonan · 06/05/2026 15:05

Apart from the fact it's illegal and adds to the pollution of the environment, what is there to worry about here?

A lot of entitled drivers on this thread.

tnorfotkcab · 06/05/2026 15:04

BleedinglyObvious · 06/05/2026 14:25

It doesn't take long to report a crime or illegal behaviour.

Show quote history

But what will this achieve.... Nothing...

Withthe2Ls · 06/05/2026 15:02

Think you are mixing up people/replies there. Neither. In all my years of motherhood I’ve never fuelled up my car anywhere except a pay at pump.