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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be irritated by this

17 replies

xstitch · 06/04/2011 16:52

Took DD to the play park this morning. There is a small car park next to the play park and people tend to park there while taking their dogs for walks. This car pulled up and the man got out and took the dogs for a walk across the adjacent park land. The lady stayed in the car (fair enough before anyone flames me) but she left the engine running for the whole 30min the dogs were being walked.

It is a pet hate of mine,leaving engines running. It's such a waste of fuel, produces unnecessary noise and pollution.

OP posts:

hecate · 06/04/2011 16:54

Maybe she was cold.

ime, very many people are not prepared to suffer even a small personal discomfort for the sake of the planet. Saving the planet is a worthy cause in theory and they're all for it.

Until they have to actually DO something.

FabbyChic · 06/04/2011 16:55

IM sure there are far far worse things to complain about than someone leaving their engine running.

K999 · 06/04/2011 16:55

Fuel is so pricey these days.....she obviously has money to burn!!

JellyBelly10 · 06/04/2011 16:55

Why would anyone do that? How wasteful. Unless she wanted to keep the air-con going? Would you need the engine on for that?

Original poster

xstitch · 06/04/2011 16:59

Possibly, I have never owned a car with air conditioning. I didn't actually complain to her. It is just something i have always been very irritated with. Its just so unnecessary.

I doubt she was cold its a warm day here. If she was too warm she could have sat with the door open.

OP posts:

controlpantsandgladrags · 06/04/2011 17:08

I sat in the car with the engine running for 20 minutes this morning. DD2 was asleep and I knew she'd wake up if i turned it off

diddl · 06/04/2011 17:11

I thought that you could have stuff running without the engine on?

Or is that just the radio/cd?

HipHopopotomus · 06/04/2011 17:12

I have to be honest it would have annoyed me too xstitch - I couldn't pretend otherwise, though I wouldn't have said anything either it would have grated on my nerves - for so many reasons.

Quenelle · 06/04/2011 17:23

It would have annoyed me too. I find the sound of a car engine idling for ages very irritating.

But would definitely excuse one with a sleeping baby in. (Been there, done that )

jasminetom · 06/04/2011 17:34

I live in the Middle East where fuel is cheap. In the summer I leave my car running while doing the weekly shop otherwise it is bloody boiling to get back in to. I spent Christmas in Dorset this year and left the car running in the same way because was so damn cold. The impact on the environment is minimal and I don't give a crap anyway and the sound of a running car negligable in a busy Tesco car park. I guess it is different outside a kids play area though, that's a bit rude really, I woulldn"t do that.

gorionine · 06/04/2011 17:39

YANBU, it is a pet hate of mine too.

vegetariandumpling · 06/04/2011 18:26

jasminetom - wouldn't someone steal your car if you did that? or can you lock it while leaving the keys in the ignition?

twoistwiceasfun · 06/04/2011 20:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jasminetom · 07/04/2011 00:54

Well not here in Qatar obviously, to be honest it has never occurred to me someone could take it. In the UK yes, they probably would, I guess I was lucky. Confused face may suggest I am lying about this, i assure you I do not know anyone who shuts their engine here, even when the guy is filling the petrol tank. Try sitting in a car when it's 52c outside and you"ll see why.
Again though I would not leave a car running right next to a kids play area, that's plain stupid.

darleneconnor · 07/04/2011 06:24

The council here fine you if you leave your engine running.

squeakytoy · 07/04/2011 07:40

It is illegal to leave your engine running while the car is unattended.

differentnameforthis · 07/04/2011 08:08

You can turn the engine off & still use air con, but it wouldn't really do much! To get the benefit, you really the engine on!

We sit in idling cars here (Australia) in the Summer. Because there is NO way any one would sit in a car that is off, as you need the air con on to keep cool.

Maybe she couldn't get out & walk for some reason, but needed to keep warm?

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