Neighbour sits in her car in road for hours with engine running

[rumblefish23]

As title says, neighbour sits in her car on the road for hours with engine running, smoking fags, flicking buts out of her car onto pavement. Hours as in 3/4 hours. Can MN give me the balls to man up, can you give me words of wisdom to confront her (while she is sitting in her car)

I'd actually be really concerned if one of my neighbours did that. Why isn't she in her own home?

Sounds odd but What is it that bothers you so much?

Why do you want to confront her?

Confront her about what? The littering?

It’s a motoring offence I think

But I wouldn’t confront her. Have you got any of those community police people in your area I don’t know their proper name..not the real police the other ones.. if they still exist

Do you mean ask her if she is ok?
if so YANBU
if you mean confront her to tell her it annoys you yabu

That's idling which is illegal

Confront her about what? You want her to switch her engine off?

Just do that

"Hello neighbour. Sorry to disturb your 'me' time, but would you mind keeping the engine off while you relax as we are finding it somewhat noisy. Thank you much!"

Done

I would be concerned. I have sat in my car, engine on, outside my house for hours just to escape my verbally abusive husband. My neighbours must think I'm mental.

It’s an offence, can lead to an on the spot fine. Not sure who you’d report to or if they’d bother coming out, mind.
Is this a regular thing or a one off? If the latter might have lost her house key and waiting for partner/whoever to bring the spare? If the former, no excuse. Each minute of idling releases enough harmful gases to fill 150 balloons! www.gov.uk/government/news/idling-drivers-could-face-higher-fines-under-new-government-crackdown

What is it that bothers you so much?

Noise and petrol fumes? I used to have commuters parking outside my house who might sit with the engine running for a few minutes when they returned to the car. That was annoying enough if I had the windows open.

eyesbiggerthanstomach Sorry to hear that, I've been there too, but why did you have the engine just running for hours if sat idle?

Are you worried about the air pollution? Idling is a problem for this and it is illegal under the Road Traffic Act. It depends whether your local authority are prepared to do anything about it. Perhaps she isn't aware that there is any problem with it. She may be going outside to get a bit of peace from whatever is going on at home. A first approach might be to check she is ok and offer a cup of tea at your house.

@OneMoreRound Unless this woman drives a tractor, or a Lamborghini, I highly doubt OP would be able to hear the car's engine.

I don't think I'd confront her.

My mum used to do this to calm herself down. She had severe mental health issues. She'd sometimes sit in the car for hours and hours. And your neighbour might not have any issues but she's unlikely to be sitting in her car for fun, I can't imagine how confronting her will improve things for anyone.

Ask her if she's okay, maybe, or just leave it be.

She's obviously messaging her work place crush.

Go out and tell her to hide her phone in the boot under the spare wheel and dump the aftershave she bought him on her last business trip.

Look her in the eye and tell her you know, you know.

Zippyx
Well I can only surmise that's why OP wants to confront her. We have a neighbour whose friend visits regularly. The friends bf picks her up late at night in the noisiest rumbliest car (not a tractor, an average hatchback) and sits outside on the road for ages with the engine running while he waits for her. We can hear it very clearly, its bloody annoying. Especially with a 6 yr old whose a light sleeper

I highly doubt OP would be able to hear the car's engine.

Really? I don't know about the op, but I assure you I can hear the engines of cars that are parked outside my house if I'm in the front room. I can hear the engines of cars passing along the street, too.

No idea what I'd do but it's a very odd and annoying thing for her to be doing. Why the hell isn't she smoking in her house or garden?

Could she be having issues with being able to heat her home?

Idling is illegal. I would also be concerned about why she is doing it. I guess the engine is running so she can keep the heating on, but why can’t she stay warm indoors? That’s worrying.

Call the police next time she starts, explain the situation and ask them to come and do a welfare check.

with engine running is not good for the planet. and wastes fuel. but then so smoking isn't good for the planet either, i don't think. well it's not good for the health of the human, actually i've never thought about the environmental impact of cigarettes. litter is bad yes, but if properly disposed of.....
anyhow, it's odd behaviour.

Prob isn’t allowed to smoke in the house so sits outside keeping warm in the car.
Answer for her is to give up fags!

I'd be annoyed too.
Noise, pollution, litter, seriously I'd have a word.

"Excuse me dear, are you ok? It's just that.... Your engine is still running, it's noisy and disturbing us, is there a reason you need to sit in your car with the engine on? Can I get you a jumper or blanket or a cup of tea?"