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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think you shouldn't leave your car engines running?

254 replies

TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 09:51

First thing in the morning all I can hear from around 6am through until 9am is the sound of car engines runnings.
It provides a constant hum in the background and pollutes the air.

Can I ask why people don't cover their car windows with sheets? Or invest in de-icer?
My dh gets up at 5.15am to leave for work at 6am but he wouldn't dream of letting his car engine run, thus disturbing our neighbours. He throws the kettle over the car and sprays it with de-icer. Yes ok it's a trifle cold when he gets in the car, but it soon warms up.

So what is it with these selfish people who come out of their houses, start up their cars and then leave the engines running for half an hour whilst they have a cup of tea? How can they afford the petrol?

If you do this, please stop. It pollutes the air and I can guarantee that your neighbours are thoroughly pissed off with it.

OP posts:
Itsallgonetitsup · 06/02/2012 10:43

Its not just about the ice though. I have to wait for my windscreen to be de misted too. I hate wiping it because in the dark all you see then is the wipe warks in oncoming headlights.

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 10:44

Oh well, it seems the advice from most UK websites says not to leave the car engine running as it wastes fuel and increases wear on the engine.

They advise de-icer or an all weather windscreen shield. Also pouring warm water onto your windscreen is fine they say.
And a small electric fan on the dashboard is recommended for fast de-misting.

If you leave your car engine running unattended on a public road you could be liable for a fine.

OP posts:
DizzyDizzyDinosaur · 06/02/2012 10:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlemisssarcastic · 06/02/2012 10:44

There have been more than a few car thefts in my area from people starting their cars, then leaving them to disappear inside for a cup of tea before leaving for work.
Current advice is if you want to start your car and leave it running while it warms up, don't leave your car to go back inside, or you may come back out to find no car at all. Sad

Thieves have been deliberately waiting on residential streets for people who leave their running cars unattended, so it's more an organised crime than a opportunist crime IYSWIM.

I do leave my car running for 5 or 10 minutes, but I don't dare wander off into my house for a cup of tea while it's running after hearing of all the thefts in my area now, and I live in a small quiet village.

historyrepeats · 06/02/2012 10:45

I need to leave mine running to demist or I wouldn't be able to see. I don't see what else people can do? Confused

littlemisssarcastic · 06/02/2012 10:46

Also, if you have AC, and you turn it on, with windscreen fan on warm, it will demist much quicker.

valiumredhead · 06/02/2012 10:46

You turned off a neighbour's van??? Shock

firsttimemama · 06/02/2012 10:47

I'm also with the OP and I am a car driver, so is my DH who leaves for work at 6:45am in his car and neither off us feel the need to run the car for 30 mins prior to departure. It is hugely annoying and polluting and selfish. IMO.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 06/02/2012 10:49

Well perhaps you're just going othave to talk to all of the other offenders - you've had some success already so why give up?

I do use a windscreen cover when I know that it's likely to be frosty but that doesn't stop the inside from misting up.

I do leave the engine running and go inside to get the boys shoes and coats on before we leave - it saves us from all having to sit in a cold car while it's demisting. Saying that though, the car is on our drive so no one can complain I suppose.

YANB(entirely)U but I do think the only solution is for you to be a little more proactive op.

margoandjerry · 06/02/2012 10:49

therhubarb I agree with you. I live in a house with no front garden - the rooms are about one metre from the street.

It drives me mad when people leave their engines running - we get people returning to their cars late at night (like 2am - we live in the city centre so lots of coming and going) and sitting in there making a phone call with the engine running. It wakes me up. I don't think people realise how loud engines can be, especially on a narrow street with tall buildings which act like an amplifier. As for the pollution Angry. We also get delivery drivers leaving their HGV engines on for half an hour at a time while they unload in the delivery bay at the end of the street. TFL are running a campaign about this now to get people to turn their engines off outside schools.

People are weirdly defensive about this btw. it's one of those things that you don't think about until someone points it out to you and then you can either think "oh, good point, I'll stop doing that" or you can dig your heels in.

margoandjerry · 06/02/2012 10:51

BTW, I do say something to every single delivery driver on our street. You can imagine the charming and helpful response.

This is not about running your engine for a minute or two to de-mist btw. That I think is almost unavoidable in this weather and your visibility is seriously compromised otherwise.

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 10:51

valiumhead yes I bloody well did. And I owned up to it and told him how bloody inconsiderate it was to leave the engine running of his diesel van every morning at 5.30am and how I'd been up all night with a poorly ds. He looked a bit like Shock as well. But he did apologise.

firsttimemama - it's just so annoying to lie in bed listening to sound of car engines! Then you look out the window and see the fog of fumes building up around their cars. No-one is in these cars, they are all back in their houses. Then when the car is warmed up after half an hour, they get in and drive off.

It's a massive bugbear of mine and I'm glad to find that it's illegal on a public road, which this is.

OP posts:
GreenEyesAndHam · 06/02/2012 10:54

Well all my neighbours do the same thing so I'm pretty sure nobody has a problem with it, however if any one did approach me to say it bothered them, then of course I would refrain. I'm not a twat, I don't believe most people are

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 10:54

Serious question - if you leave your car engine running unattended, then a neighbour approached you about it and pointed out how it was illegal and actually annoying them, but in a reasonable manner. What would your response be?

OP posts:
Original poster
TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 10:55

GreenEyes - thanks.
I suspect though that your response would be to say that all your neighbours did the same. However I'll guarantee there will be a few neighbours who don't and who are afraid of approaching any of you about it because they feel that they are in the minority.

OP posts:
mousymouseafraidofdogs · 06/02/2012 10:55

rhubarb, maybe next time hide the keys...

valiumredhead · 06/02/2012 10:57

My response would be 'Fuck off you daft bint!' Grin

GreenEyesAndHam · 06/02/2012 10:59

How cool is that, I answered before you asked Grin

No we really all do do it (six houses- all run engines)

Lilaclion · 06/02/2012 11:01

If you approached me and said it was disturbing you and keeping you awake I would be horrified that I had been upsetting a neighbour and obviously make the effort to be quite in the morning, but if you started spouting off how it was illegal...that would piss me off quite honestly.

scuzy · 06/02/2012 11:04

i wouldnt be one bit happy if you got into my car and turned it off!!!!

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 11:05

Right ok, so I now need to find out which houses are responsible and approach them to ask if they could find another way to defrost their cars in the morning as it's disturbing me and stopping me from opening my windows to let the fresh air in - which I need to do to stop the mildew growing back on the windows.

If they tell me 'tough shit' then I'll mention the illegality of it and also how, if the car was driven off, their insurance wouldn't pay up.

OP posts:
Lilaclion · 06/02/2012 11:07

Agree with scuzy...to actually get in the car and turn the engine off is just asking for a fight!

ArielNonBio · 06/02/2012 11:07

i wouldnt be one bit happy if you got into my car and turned it off!!!!

Why are people so barmy about their cars? Confused

Original poster
TheRhubarb · 06/02/2012 11:08

Very likely not scuzy, but it makes the point well and if you leave your diesel car engine running at 5.30am for half an hour whilst you go back in for breakfast then you deserve it for being an inconsiderate arse.

I don't make the habit of being so confrontational but when my patience is tried morning after morning then I don't hold back either.

OP posts:
IwishIwasmoreorganised · 06/02/2012 11:09

I wouldn't be all that chuffed in all honesty, but it would make me think again about doing it, or certainly for the length of time that it's done for.

As we have a drive you wouldn't need to talk to me, but perhaps I'm pissing my neighbours off so will only do it when the car's very misty.

I too would hold of the legal aspect to begin with!