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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To increasingly want to challenge idling car drivers?

72 replies

whataboutbob · 08/04/2019 19:01

I live in London and like many city dwellers am acutely aware of air pollution. I’m getting more and more intolerant of drivers who sit in their cars, engine running and no visible intention of moving on. I came home the other day to find a Land Rover parked outside my flat, driver mobile phone in hand, hazard lights on (why?) and engine running
This went on for about half an hour . I really wanted to challenge himbut wimped out, partly because he had a toddler in the back seat and would probably have told me he needed the heating on because of that. I see that idling is illegal, but can a member of the public challenge someone/ ask them to turn off?Obviously I’d do it politely and have done so in the past, with mixed results. Anyone else feel the same?

OP posts:

Furrydogmum · 09/04/2019 18:38

@nicoandtheniners in summer they do it with the engines on to keep the ac icy - I live in a small narrow cul de sac - they are pouring diesel fumes into open windows and the lungs of children playing out in their own gardens.. It isn't acceptable and isn't legal afaik..

ScrewyMcScrewup · 09/04/2019 18:40

I really hate it. I wish car emissions were visible; I think it'd make a huge difference to behaviour.

I don't challenge people, though. I'm generally out alone and I don't feel safe doing it.

Oakmaiden · 09/04/2019 18:50

I wish car emissions were visible

I have sometimes wondered if farting would be more or less acceptable if it was colourful, so everyone could see who "done it" and when....

Ahem...

Vulpine · 09/04/2019 19:03

Mycat- I'm talking about one hot drink at lunch time to warm up. That's a pretty affordable thing and to be fair most cafes around my way are full of 'manual labourers'.

InACheeseAndPickle · 09/04/2019 19:10

I don't police other people's behaviour because where does it stop? Their parenting? Their clothing choice?

It stops when their behaviour isn't affecting other people's ability to breath.

Buddytheelf85 · 09/04/2019 19:23

Completely agree OP. I literally just walked past one. Great big polluting SUV. Driver with window down and fag in hand. So can’t have been too cold or too hot. The only explanation I can think of is that he wants the air conditioning on so his expensive car doesn’t smell too badly of smoke.

BessieBumptiousness · 09/04/2019 19:30

Just don't turn your engine off if you're in stationary traffic on the motorway. I made that mistake recently. Bloody thing wouldn't start again when traffic started moving and it was hands down the most terrifying moment of my life.

The battery died. It had given me absolutely NO indication that it was on its way out, otherwise I'd have just replaced it (I'm fairly good with maintenance!). Happily, a couple of lorry drivers jumped out and pushed me to the hard shoulder, but it was dusk and I had no hazard lights either, so an added major issue there.

The idiots using the hard shoulder because they were just too important to queue (when the traffic stopped again) gave me major entertainment when they weren't allowed back in to join the main carriageway by other drivers. That was hilarious to watch...

Whatdoyouknowwhenyouknownowt · 09/04/2019 19:35

I asked, poliitely, a driving instructor to turn off his engine as he'd been sitting outside my house for ages and there was cloud of fumes.

He looked very ignorant and had a bit of an attitude, so I said it's in the Highway Code to turn your engine off.

He then told a colleague, who'd stopped to say something to him, who had a go at me saying it wasn't...I told them as driving instructors, they should know better! Ignorance is a choice nowadays.

Original poster

whataboutbob · 09/04/2019 21:48

Yes I think ignorance is a choice. As it was when smokers said they needed to smoke because “ it opens my lungs” or people ( like my gran) chose not to wear seatbelts “ because I want to be able to get out quickly if there’s a crash,” I hope we’re at a tipping point and it will become the next unacceptable behaviour. Maybe people sense they aren’t going to keep getting away with it and that makes them all the more defensive.

OP posts:

Order654 · 09/04/2019 21:59

People don’t get to police my behaviour.

I’d tell someone to get lost and do my window back up.

Stop being a busy body.

powershowerforanhour · 09/04/2019 22:00

Mycat- I'm talking about one hot drink at lunch time to warm up. That's a pretty affordable thing and to be fair most cafes around my way are full of 'manual labourers'.

How much does it cost in fuel to run an engine for a whole lunch break? A fair few bob anyway.

Buddytheelf85 · 09/04/2019 22:07

*People don’t get to police my behaviour.

I’d tell someone to get lost and do my window back up.*

Omg, how cool. You must be the coolest kid in school.

Buddytheelf85 · 09/04/2019 22:12

Actually, I think I might start dropping litter. Not picking up my dog’s shit. Parking where I like, including across people’s driveways. Picking my feet on the train. Sneezing and coughing without covering my mouth. Cos, you know, people don’t get to police my behaviour. Then I might be as cool as @Order654.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 09/04/2019 22:12

But why are you insisting on doing it when you know it’s bad for the air we all breathe, you and your family included, Order?

BlackeyedGruesome · 09/04/2019 22:29

Try having a kid you think you are going to lose as they are having an asthma attack and their inhaler isn't relieving it nor did the nebuliser, all because you can't be arsed to turn off your engine.

Helix1244 · 09/04/2019 22:30

How do you feel about children and adults struggling to breath though. They die every day of asthma.
Have to take medicine.

Also on another thread like this it was pointed out that the reason not to idle was that when not moving the fumes are also in the car too. So you are poisoning yourself. Certainly not sensible with kids in the car or pregnant!

Certainly by schools think this is happening daily poisoning the air for the residents (with kids at home all day). And going onto the playground. Just so you can keep warm/cold/charge your phone. Think about the fact that Carbon monoxide from cars is how some people commit suicide.
I agree with pp not turning off makes no sense, it cost money. In England it would be a rare day you are that hot or cold, not everyday as i see. And when it's that hot waiting for pickup then get out the car... As anyway it's sometimes 30 deg in the house so it's not like people will melt

BlackeyedGruesome · 09/04/2019 22:31

If you would not grab someone by the throat and cut off their air supply, why do you think it is ok to put emissions into the air that "strangle" a child by clamping their airways closed?

Helix1244 · 09/04/2019 22:37

Also meant to say. There are links to ADHD to asthma and allergies as it it unsurprisingly affects kids behaviour. (Because they cant breath, run around and spend all night coughing and have stimulating medicines). So all those of you complaining of the dc in your dc class who cant behave...

Order654 · 10/04/2019 14:01

@Buddytheelf85 you can do what you like. I don’t care if you park across someone’s drive or if you want to play with your feet on a train.

Original poster

whataboutbob · 10/04/2019 18:21

@Helix1244, car fumes might also explain why leukaemia rates are higher in children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Living in a badly fume affected area is also linked to increased risk of dementia. The evidence is pretty hard to ignore.

OP posts:

Arnoldthecat · 10/04/2019 18:43

I am a man in a van working on behalf of a large corporate UK company. I often have to run my engine when static for the following reasons:

If its cold i need the heater on to keep warm

My van has lots of extra electronics on board that need to be kept powered up/charged

I have a small sink with a hot water storage tank so it heats the water.

I try not to run it because im very much aware of environmental issues but sometimes it just has to go on..

Arnoldthecat · 10/04/2019 18:44

PS i think local authority traffic wardens can issue fixed penalty notices to drivers of vehicles left idling excessively..

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