Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to leave my engine running for ten mins at 6.45 each morning (M-F)?

801 replies

ThreeJumpersIsNotEnough · 16/12/2018 17:21

Neighbours have just come to the door with a Christmas card and a polite request to be more quiet in the mornings.

I usually leave at 7am to drop dd at breakfast club and get myself to work at 8am (I work Mon-Fri only - no weekends).

Now it's getting colder, the car is unbearably cold in the mornings so last week I started nipping out 10-15 mins earlier while dd was brushing her teeth so the car would be warm for us getting in and the frost/ice would be mostly melted from the window.

Neighbours have revealed that they are normally woken by me leaving most mornings at 7am but they can put up with it as I leave immediately so they are able to go back to sleep. However, they are not willing to put up with what I've been doing recently as they have found it impossible to go back to sleep having been awake for so long waiting for me to leave with the engine running ... Hmm

They have suggested I park further away from the house.

This is my first winter with these neighbours. They only moved in beginning of the year and we're polite to each other but not any more than 'hello' acquaintances. We live very rurally - just our two houses - in woodland area. Any noise carries and it is mostly silent (why I moved here - now I'm the one being a noise pest, it would appear). No street lights. 5 minute drive down our landlord's private (god awful road) onto the public road where there are other houses.

If I parked further away, that is further for me and DD to walk to the car each morning - in the pitch black - with our bags. Likewise, it is further for us to walk to the house each evening when we get back.

Not sure what the solution is. I told them I wasn't keen to park farther away (due to the above concerns) but they've asked me to give it a try at least for tomorrow. I've agreed to try it.

AIBU to ask for your ideas on what a peaceful resolution to this would be?

OP posts:
JustBeenNosey · 16/12/2018 20:30

I know you said it is a rural area but if for whatever reason someone was to steal your car whilst you were inside and the engine was running with the keys in.. it wouldn't go in your favour.

Even for that alone I wouldn't risk leaving the keys in my car for 15 minutes whilst I was in my house.

Canshopwillshop · 16/12/2018 20:31

YABU

Allabitmuchisntit · 16/12/2018 20:33

My neighbour leaves engine running for about twenty fucking minutes each morning at a similar time. Yes it wakes me up. Yes it's extremely fucking annoying. Yes yabu.

Touched a nerve there sorry.

Drum2018 · 16/12/2018 20:33

Apart from the fact that it's extremely inconsiderate towards your neighbours, it's a foolish thing to do as it could be easily stolen. Try explaining to your insurance company that you left the car running unattended, while you went inside to brush your teeth - you may as well write 'steal me' in the frosted windows!

PipGoesPop · 16/12/2018 20:38

Yes YABU

Monkeynuts18 · 16/12/2018 20:39

You use public transport. Is it powered by good thoughts?

I think you know what a ridiculous comment that is. The trains I use are electric, so no, they don’t release emissions at the point of use (and they transport many hundreds of people, rather than just one or two) but I’m not sure that’s the point.

But let’s say I did use a car. Does that mean I’d have absolutely no right to comment on the OP’s habit of leaving her vehicle idling for 10-15 minutes every morning?

I find this race to the bottom whenever environmental issues are discussed very depressing. ‘I’m going to run my car however I like because Bob from accounts isn’t vegan.’ I don’t see who it helps.

DeepanKrispanEven · 16/12/2018 20:41

What on earth is the point of posting "YABU' 300 posts into the thread without bothering to read even the OP's posts? OP acknowledged hours ago that SWBU, which means she isn't any longer, and these posts just make people look pretty silly.

Ollivander84 · 16/12/2018 20:42

My engine is running while I scrape the car. The neighbours complained (once) about the noise from the scraping as it was "too early"
But given they don't work and like to inconvenience me by blocking me in, parking in my space and just generally being idiots, I ignored them

De icer isn't great for paintwork, I can't pour water over as it runs off to the road and freezes (I've slid a few times when other people do it) so they'll have to put up with me scraping at 7am 🤷🏽‍♀️ I minimise it as much as I can

GrannyHaddock · 16/12/2018 20:43

Use a fan heater on an extension lead to warm your car and melt ice.

easielouisie · 16/12/2018 20:47

Against the majority, its not illegal. How do the thousands of people who live in houses on a roadside with constant traffic cope? Confused

Takes 5 mins to de mist anyway, just cut it to 10 mins and be on your merry warm way

FlyingMonkeys · 16/12/2018 20:48

A couple of wheat bags to shove in the microwave for 30secs and pop on your and Dd's lap might help with the cold issue. Plus far safer than a hot water bottle in case it pops.

BeanBagLady · 16/12/2018 20:49

My Mum livrs in a really quiet village, so quite, then out comes the guy from the cottage opposite, slams his front door, opens his car door, engine in, slams car door, engine running 15 mins, from door slams again, car door slams again, all at 6.30 am. The whole routine does make it harder to just go back to sleep.

Some people live in noise and don’t care how much other people make.

Princessmushroom · 16/12/2018 20:51

I can’t believe some of these comments. It’s illegal to idle? Oh come on. In harsh winter it takes 10 minutes to defrost your car and you’re expecting the OP to sit in the car with a child and freeze? Wow

masterandmargarita · 16/12/2018 20:52

Ollivander - 7am is pretty early to be waking people whether they work or not

ilikefastcars · 16/12/2018 20:52

Yabvvu! And vvselfish!
It's not only illegal, but your car is not insured if you leave the keys in it.
Just get a windscreen cover, and take a blanket in the car!

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 16/12/2018 20:56

I start the engine and turn everything to max, scrape the windows and sit in the car for a few minutes while it clears, the same as everyone else in the street and probably most other people in real life!

You probably don't realise just how bad this is. On a cold and calm, often foggy, winter morning the fumes hang around for a long time after you have left in your car. Everybody who walk on the street, especially little children, who are the height of your exhaust pipe have no choice but to breathe your fumes.

Do you really want this?

BoebePhuffay · 16/12/2018 20:57

Does that mean I’d have absolutely no right to comment on the OP’s habit of leaving her vehicle idling for 10-15 minutes every morning?

It does actually. Because using a car at all is for convenience. So no, you don’t get to lambast others for using their cars conveniently.

ginyogarepeat · 16/12/2018 20:57

YABVU. What's more, your children shouldn't be wearing winter coats in the car - it's dangerous if you were in an accident (plenty of online videos will show you why).

I've never warmed the car up first, my DC don't wear their coats for the aforementioned reasons, and we've always coped fine. They have blankets for the colder weather and may keep a hat on but seriously, it's a few minutes of cold. To be so inconsiderate to your neighbours both in terms of noise and air pollution is awful just because you won't be cold for 5 minutes.

jarhead123 · 16/12/2018 20:59

How noisy are some of your cars?! This is madness lol

BoebePhuffay · 16/12/2018 21:00

Everybody who walk on the street, especially little children, who are the height of your exhaust pipe have no choice but to breathe your fumes.

Do you really want this?

So just like they have to do with every other car, van, bus, lorry, tractor on the roads then?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 16/12/2018 21:00

Chardonnay I obviously don't do it on purpose but wiping the windscreen doesn't work as it fogs up again and I can hardly pull away with two eyeholes can I?

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 16/12/2018 21:01

How noisy are some of your cars?! This is madness lol

There's is little background noise early in the morning and all noise is magnified.

Judeeee · 16/12/2018 21:01

People who have the luxury of being able to sleep in and not have to get up early for work shouldn't complain when those of us who do have to leave early for work start their engines or scrape ice away. Live and let live ffs.

crazycatgal · 16/12/2018 21:01

I agree with @PinkSparklyPussyCat

You can't exactly set off if your windscreen is still fogging up, that's just dangerous.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 16/12/2018 21:04

A passing car is gone in seconds, a car with an idling engine puffs out fumes for much longer. It is worse. You can smell it, when you are outside.

I am talking residential streets here, so I have no experience with big lorries or tractors.

Don't be selfish. Defrost, clear your windows, put a coat on. Show consideration to neighbours, and the environment.