To think people can defrost their cars without running their engine all morning?

[shinysnowman]

I start work in a couple of hours. I have been awake since 5am, due to a steady flow of neighbours who have sat in their car with their engine running, one actually revving their engine constantly, waiting for their car to defrost. The first at 5am, each for a good 15 minutes each. It's been the same every day this week.

Don't people scrape their cars anymore? Is it wrong for me to be annoyed and think that they are being inconsiderate?

(Apologies to those with DC who are dragged up with them at this time!)

It is just a shitty part of winter.

My car has a heated windscreen so the engine needs to be on. Fuck am I going to stand there manually scraping the ice off when I can let the engine run for 5 minutes.

I see no point standing out there while it is doing its thing when I can be in the warm.

And yes, Trewser, how is doing something that is an offence 'fine'?

It is only an offence when it is done so unnecessarily. As dozens of people have patiently explained, demisting the windows is very much necessary, so we can see where we're going.

Do you think we're out there burning fuel in the cold for shits and giggles?

All this "gotcha!" armchair lawyer stuff is weird.

This is my pet peeve too! It's so easy just to make a hot water bottle when you make your morning cuppa, stick it in your car and then by the time you are ready to leave your car will be defrosted inside and out.

I use one of these these windscreen covers

Not when you aren't in the car though - the legal way is when you are in the car, people are talking here about leaving the car unattended.

I wasn't! Like others I was trying to work out how you are supposed to demist without turning the engine over?

@SarahNade Yes! Many people here park their cars on the street somewhere close to their homes. We have millions of homes without garage, drive or parking outside! Cars live outside in all weathers.

ah @SarahNade - that's such a sweet remark .Most of us don't have garages or car ports .Well not near me in London .Lots of terraced housing .Houses converted into flats .

Where I am people think themselves very lucky if they can park outside their home and not several metres down the road .

The noise of scraping is like fingernails down a blackboard to me. I'd rather the engine

My car takes ages to demist inside. I have a microfibre wiping thing, but it leaves big smears which means that when the sun is low I might not be able to see at all.
Warm water seems to be the quickest way for me. I have a bucket and then use a small jug so I don't make big icy puddles.
Still need to run the fans for a few minutes though. I will be digging out my hot water bottle, excellent tip!

I'll be interested to try the hot water bottle trick. If it works I'll but DH one too!

I always think me scraping at the ice must be louder than the engine being on! I run my engine whilst scraping at the ice. There are two of us in our cul-de-sac that leave at 6am, first two people to drive to work, I am so conscious of the noise. DH says he can always here us both scraping at our windows but he doesnt make comment on the engines.

The water in a bag trick sounds like a good idea maybe.

I just thought it was really bad to tip hot water over the ice though as it will then turn into a sheet of ice on the floor and people will slip on that?

Are there any other suggestions?

Mine defrosts in less than 5 mins (one of those heated windscreens) - although I have to drive for a little for it to have warmed up enough that the air coming out of the blowers is actually warm (only a problem if I've left a window open overnight and the car's got damp, so the windscreen is fogged on the inside)

I can't physically scrape all of mine - I'm only 5' tall, and without some kind of scraper on a stick, I can't reach to the middle of the windscreen! I scrape the side windows though (or let the kids do the hand thing)

For the outside ... a kettle of tap water (as warm as my fingers can stand it), poured slowly along the top of the windscreen. I've done this for 30 years, so I'm quietly hopeful that I won't crack a windscreen any time soon.

For the inside (if it's just wet - mine doesn't seem to freeze on the inside unless I haven't used the car for a couple of days or more) ... a small rubber squeegee to wipe the water/moisture over to the sides, then wipe with kitchen roll. Window is still misty at that point though, so I put the engine on and blast the windscreen. Obviously the air is cold at first, but it does heat up quite quickly (newish car) so it's probably only a couple of minutes before it's clear and I can drive off.

I use a spray but I’m sure it must be terrible for the environment. I did have to sit in the car for a few minutes once I had the engine on to allow the car to demist but no more than 2 mins. I do ageee that those who leave their engine running for any reason should not be allowed to drive. There’s no need for that.

I’m lucky and stuff doesn’t wake me up in the morning but all the kids walking to school must suffer from those fumes.

This is my pet peeve too! It's so easy just to make a hot water bottle when you make your morning cuppa, stick it in your car and then by the time you are ready to leave your car will be defrosted inside and out.

Have you ever considered that not everyone has your nice leisurely morning routine?

I got up at 5.15 am today, went from bed to shower.
Did make up and hair while in dressing gown straight out of shower.
Got dressed.
Went downstairs, started my frozen car, came back in, fed the cats, got my bag, coat and laptop and left for work as soon as the windscreen was clear.

Getting up to leaving the house took me

You claim this isn't the case, but haven't offered a solution to demisting the car which doesn't involve starting the car.

You sit there and wipe it. Then wipe it again,
Put a heated pad or a hot water bottle on the dash board.

What on earth difference does it make if you are sat in the car for a few minutes, or sat in your house for a few minutes?

SItting in the car makes it legal. Sitting in the house makes it illegal.

I pour a kettle of cold water over mine. I used to have to run the engine on my old car though to clear the inside enough to drive safely.

*Getting up to leaving the house took me

Yeah I live in a village with a level crossing and the number of people who leave their engine running and sit there for 15 minutes with the fumes spewing out right into the kids on the school run. The idea that they'd just wear a bloody jumper in the car!

I drive through a village with a level crossing and the queues go right past houses. There are signs to switch your engine off whilst waiting.

Yet you fanny abput doing your make up?

Are you seriously judging me because I choose to wear make up? That's your argument? That I should instead take the time to waste water and energy?

Surprised more people don't know the hot water bottle trick. If you put the hot water bottle on your dash board it melts the ice on the windscreen and demists the inside a treat. Then you can put it on your lap when you drive away and it's nice and toasty while the heating kicks in.

YABU - both my son and I leave engines on for at least 10 minutes, he has an old car that takes at least 10 minutes to even start to clear before he uses a scraper. However it's not at 5am, it's 8am.
It's winter, people need to get to work/school/college so it's much safer by far to clear the windscreen and back screen by leaving engine running. Show some tolerance.

SItting in the car makes it legal. Sitting in the house makes it illegal.

On the road sure. On the drive, you can do what you want as far as I know. The highway code doesn't extend onto my front garden.

pipnchops love it and will try tomorrow!

I think it’s dangerous to leave the cars running with no one inside. Anyone could jump in and drive your car off, including teens.

I’ll try the hot water bottle trick though!