Why is the woman next to me sitting in her car with the engine on?

[couchparsnip]

Just that really.
We've dropped off our kids at dance school and we're just waiting in the car park for the class to end. She's been sat there with her engine running for at least half an hour. I don't get how anyone can waste that much fuel! Does she not realise? I'm not going to tell her but does anyone else.do.that - and why would you?

My car turns itself off after a while of the engine not being on (sometimes need the radio/music on for DS), so I switch my engine on

Trust me I’d rather not have a degenerative neurological condition but that’s the hand I’ve been dealt. Like I said I try to remember a fleece but on some occasions I forget because I’m fallible.

@bluebellsandcustard fucked, we can say fucked, we are after all, adults.

@SirGawain Not all cars do this. Mine doesn't either. I never charge my phone in the car unless on a long drive because it will not charge with the engine off. Nothing does. The radio will go off, heater off, ac off, anything plugged into the car charger will go off with the engine. Fans will run but at neutral temperatures. This is not a fault, it is just the way the car works.

The world is just filled with selfish mo fos who give not a single damn about anyone else. All cars in my daughter's gymnastics carpark have engines running for hours. In winter to keep drivers warm, in summer for aircon. Just wear a coat in winter, or a vest in summer. Get a grip.

People that idle engines while they are sat in them may not realise the risks they are exposing themselves to. External fumes are bad enough for passers by, but recirculated air inside a diesel/petrol car is dangerous and prolonged exposure is linked to increased risks of cancers, COPD, heart disease and dementia. If you have a child in the car it’s even worse as prolonged exposure to air pollution is linked to restricted lung growth. There needs to be a massive education campaign about the damage that vehicle emissions have on long term health impacts, so people are motivated to minimise the damage they are inflicting on their health.

Even without engines running, do people really just sit in a car for 30 minutes to an hour? Surely going for a walk or using the time to go food shopping or similar is a better use of time? I'd be bored.

I go to the park for a stroll or to read a book while DD is swimming.

I think some people like fucking the planet.
We're all adults, we all understand that if you have a new born in the car or a very elderly person or are disabled, then you might feel it is best to run the engine.
However, most people who keep the engine running are just selfish, they don't want to dress appropriately, they don't want to leave their private little space and go for a walk, they don't want to take any responsibility for the world that their children or grandchildren will inherit.

Exactly. Anyone who does this is an idiot. I don't care if you need to charge your phone. Do it at home!

If you get cold, wear an extra coat. If you are warm, open a window or go for a walk/sit in the shade.

Exactly. Some people are so ignorant and selfish.

An average car burns about a litre for half an hour of idling. So, not ideal, but if my phone was flat and I had a choice between sitting in silence and staring into space or spending a litre's worth of petrol so I could charge my phone and listen to some music or a podcast, I might run my engine, too.

But do you not see how selfish that is? Asking genuinely. People have to be exposed to fumes which are proven to worsen asthma etc, just so that you are not without your device for an hour?

Not all cars do this. Mine doesn't either. I never charge my phone in the car unless on a long drive because it will not charge with the engine off. Nothing does. The radio will go off, heater off, ac off, anything plugged into the car charger will go off with the engine. Fans will run but at neutral temperatures. This is not a fault, it is just the way the car works.

Have you read the manual? It may be off by default, but it’s rare that a car doesn’t have the option to enable power to the accessory socket(s) with the engine off.

But why not go for a walk or do something more productive with your time? I don't get sitting in a car multiple times a week and doing nothing.

MugginsOverEre · Today 20:00
I do it to charge my phone when I'm stuck at some tedious shite activity such as dance classes and my battery is about to run out. No way am I sitting twiddling my thumbs with no device for an hour.

Running the air con
Running the heater
Running the radio
Charging a phone

Ive done all of these at various points, in various vehicles which wont do them if the engine and ignition is off.

sometimes its just necessary

My kid’s school has a massive banner outside the front of it saying “don’t leave your engine running waiting outside our school” with a drawing of kids being exposed to pollution. The sign isn’t there for no reason, leaving your engine running is a dick move.

YOUR car doesn’t need the engine on but as others have pointed out, some others do!

My car goes into Eco mode after a few mins of having the radio on / phone charging. If I have been working all day, my phone may well need a charge by the time we onto kids evening hobbies, I am also well able to choose myself if I want my car heater on.

@etulosba Yes, I've checked the manual. It just doesn't do it. Neither does my mums car. Maybe it's a thing with older cars? It doesn't even have an auxiliary socket, just the cigarette lighter style socket.

Im often needing to continue on work calls or emails, fitting in chores in between work appointments and vice versa, my work phone loses charge incredibly quickly, particularly on teams meetings so when in a meeting I have to have the phone plugged in and need the engine on to do that meeting.

@couchparsnip

shocking I know, but not all cars are the same!! Who'd have thought eh?!?!

I sat in the car for two hours tonight outside DDs panto rehearsal! It’s a 30 min drive, so definitely costs more in fuel to come home.
Some times I go to a local friend for a cuppa, sometimes a couple of mums go to the pub for a coffee and cake, sometimes I/we go for a walk but tonight I sat in my car and caught up with a million works emails as I’m so busy at the minute, other times I just enjoy the silence and scroll MN endlessly for an hour or two.

I used to do food shopping. Via Tesco online while waiting. I live rurally - there are no parks to go to or shops to go to where I had to wait outside the community centre.

Plus. I can't go for a walk anyway. Not for pleasure. And it's dark and cold if I even had a park to go to.

Even without engines running, do people really just sit in a car for 30 minutes to an hour? Surely going for a walk or using the time to go food shopping or similar is a better use of time? I'd be bored.

I used to sit in the car, not enough time to drive to the supermarket and do a shop, or to go home. Not able or even interested in walking. I loved the down time tbh, why is everyone obsessed with filling every minute?

Against the law and so it should be...

www.confused.com/car-insurance/guides/fines-for-idling