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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask the woman who parks outside my house every day

34 replies

CharlieSierra · 30/07/2014 15:56

To please not sit in her car on the phone for 20-30 mins every single afternoon with her noisy smelly Diesel engine running filling my house with stinky fumes. Oh and also to get her alarm sorted so to doesn't keep going off several times a day while I'm trying to work.

OP posts:
TheLovelyBoots · 30/07/2014 15:59

This does my head in. Why anyone would allow their engine to idle for more than a few seconds is beyond me.

freezation · 30/07/2014 16:00

I'm sure she's breaking the law by being on her phone with the engine running. Report her!!

softlysoftly · 30/07/2014 16:02

Running air con? While YANBU to want to its a free Road so she can do as she pleases.

TheLovelyBoots · 30/07/2014 16:04

I don't think it's legal to allow your car to idle endlessly. Very bad for air quality.

wowfudge · 30/07/2014 16:06

Do you have the opportunity to tell her the car alarm keeps going off, for example when she returns to the car at the end of the day? All you would need to do is say, 'Excuse me, I thought you might like to know that your car alarm has gone off X times today, but there was no one around, I checked. And it happened yesterday and the day before. I work from home so I hear it every time'.

You never know, but it might just make her change where she parks....

Chattymummyhere · 30/07/2014 16:09

Think its agasint the law to be on the phone with the engine running, drunks get in trouble for sitting in a car running so would fit that she should as well

NewtRipley · 30/07/2014 16:11

I'd put a note on the car about the alarm

NewtRipley · 30/07/2014 16:11

...or talk to her, of course1

FrankSaysNo · 30/07/2014 16:13

The law doesn't say anything about being a car idling. I do wish people wouldn't offer opinion as fact.

www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law

When you can use a phone in your vehicle

If you’re the driver, you can only use your phone in a vehicle if you:

need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop

are safely parked

Using hands-free devices when driving

You can use hands-free phones, sat navs and 2-way radios when you’re driving or riding. But if the police think you’re distracted and not in control of your vehicle you could still get stopped and penalised.

awsomer · 30/07/2014 16:13

YANBU. Confront her. What's the worst that could happen? She'll either be self indignant or embarrassed but either way will (hopefully) stop her behaviour.

Numanoid · 30/07/2014 16:14

Idling is illegal in England, but the fine is only £20. Elsewhere in the UK, I don't think it's illegal.

Original poster
CharlieSierra · 30/07/2014 16:15

She probably is running her air con, she shouldn't sit there for that long with her engine running though, not environmentally friendly. She works in a local estate agents so she went out and now she's come back. She'll doubtless do it again when she leaves for the day. I think I will have a polite word about the alarm and maybe mention how unpleasant the fumes are. If she thinks I'm a right pita she might find somewhere else.

OP posts:
MrsTaraPlumbing · 30/07/2014 16:20

Try to calm down because as far as I know you have no right to demand these things of her and she is entitled to do them.
But I am full of sympathy - my neighbour used to leave his motor bike reving for maybe 20 minutes - these people are just oblivious to how annoying it can be to neighbours.
Ask nicely.
Let her know the negative impact in your home.

Also you might want to tell her about the danger of carbon monoxide building up when vehicles are stationary with their engines running. You shouldn't do it, even in a new car, it isn't safe and many people have died because of this.

For reference you could look at the website of the Anthony's Light Foundation - he was overcome by Carbon monoxide and died in a car.
Also download the ebook: Carbon Monoxide not only a Killer by Deborah Percy which is less than a £1 at Kindle and free everywhere else.
Chapter 5 & 6 are most relevant.

TheJiminyConjecture · 30/07/2014 16:20

How annoying!

Is there any way you could park there so she buggers off has to find a new place to park?

cozietoesie · 30/07/2014 16:22

\link{http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2003/212/part/6/made\In Scotland.}

myotherusernameisbetter · 30/07/2014 16:24

it is a by law I think. she should't be doing it, it is pollution, noise pollution as well for the alarm......what you should do is contact the police everytime it goes off saying the alarm went off and you think you saw someone at the car - they will get fed up and deal with her accordingly...

Original poster
CharlieSierra · 30/07/2014 16:47

Ah, now I hadn't actually realised it was illegal to idle, but it is, so she isn't entitled to do it - although obviously I accept she can park there. I'm not uncalm(!) MrsTara just mildly irritated Angry by her indifference to her impact on others. I'm definitely warming to the idea of letting her tyres down having a word.

OP posts:
Namechangearoonie123 · 30/07/2014 16:49

Last week one of my neighbours sat outside running his car for 90 minutes with the air con on

At 2 fucking am!

I live in a really quiet cul de sac so it made a lot of really annoying noise.

CrohnicallyDepressed · 30/07/2014 17:55

if you're the driver, you can only use your phone in a vehicle if you... are safely parked

Being pedantic here, but doesn't safely parked imply the engine isn't running? Thinking of the distinction between no parking zones and no waiting zones.

Dickiewiddler · 30/07/2014 19:06

YANBU. My old neighbour used to do this with his fucking old banger van, at 5 in the morning before he went on an early shift. He'd turn on the engine to warm it up and then fuck off inside for a brew. Angry

I'd had enough one morning and stamped outside and turned the engine off. He saw me. He didn't say a word, presumably as he was rooted to the spot with terror at the sight of my raging face, braless in pjamas, looking like I might disembowel him with his car keys. I came back in and slammed the door and he never did it again.

LastTango · 30/07/2014 19:14

She works in a local estate agents.........so ring them every time the alarm goes off. They will get fed-up with you ringing and moaning and and she will move the car.

Original poster
CharlieSierra · 30/07/2014 19:31

namechange that is so rude of him. People can be incredibly inconsiderate.

Dickie Grin

OP posts:
limitedperiodonly · 30/07/2014 19:42

Have you asked her to stop are are you just asking us? It's amazing what human interaction will do.

BTW the police do it.

Cuddlydragon · 30/07/2014 19:42

Oh god, this gives me the rage. My next door neighbour used to start his ancient diesel mini van outside out Terrace house every morning between 5.30 am and 6. He'd then leave it running for 20 minutes or so whilst he "walked" his deaf dog who usually crapped in our front garden. We'd asked and asked politely for him to stop doing it as it was right outside our bedroom window. One night we had a pretty drunken party with friends which spilled out into the garden. I will never forget the shame/fun of 30 pretty pissed adults all standing in the back garden singing "brum brum, brum brum, shudder shudder, fucks sake < dogs name>". Nor all our other neighbours joining in clapping and conducting the choir. Didn't stop them, but it was a few nights before we moved and it still makes me smile.

EarthWindFire · 30/07/2014 19:50

Being pedantic here, but doesn't safely parked imply the engine isn't running? Thinking of the distinction between no parking zones and no waiting zones.

It could be argued that is the case yes.