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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to ask them to stop idling their engines?

48 replies

Singingatmidnight · 29/02/2020 08:25

I live in a block of flats opposite a private primary school. Twice a day, parents are sitting in massive big cars with their engines running (on double yellows mostly, but that's by the by). Mostly they're on their phones/iPads, or making a phone call.

If they were literally perching for thirty seconds while their kid walked out the door, I'd get it, but they are often sitting their 15 minutes or more. To be fair, the majority switch their engines off, but there are usually at least three or four idling.

I walk along this road often with my baby daughter and the fumes are just terrible. WiBU to knock on their windows and ask them nicely to turn the engine off?

OP posts:
Fandoozle1 · 29/02/2020 08:27

You could ask nicely but be prepared for a mouthful of colourful abuse in return, which is the norm round by our primary school.

grafittiartist · 29/02/2020 08:29

Definitely do it. I hate this- it's so thoughtless. And bad for the environment.

adreamofspring · 29/02/2020 08:31

Write to the school. Lots of schools have guidelines for parents and that can include not idling engines as it affects the air quality around the school for all the children. Send number plates if there’s a persistent offender.

FairyBatman · 29/02/2020 08:33

YWNBU to ask, but I’d probably contact the school and council and ask them to deal with it. Clean air is so high on the agenda that they won’t want to be seen to do nothing about it

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 29/02/2020 08:35

YANBU, I hate this. I've only plucked up the courage to confront people twice - both times I was polite and it was fine. I'm sure you'll get people saying to mind your own business, but as it's outside your home and you have a baby, it very much is your business.

LizziesTwin · 29/02/2020 08:40

Ask the school - you don’t need to get involved on a one to one level. Our local council has put up signs by taxi ranks reminding them to turn off their engines.

Alloftheboys · 29/02/2020 08:41

I parked up early for school pickup the other day and there was a woman idling for 20 minutes Hmm

ladymary86 · 29/02/2020 08:42

I second the suggestion to contact the school and request that they deal with it. It's not acceptable.
I'm also pretty sure (depending where you are) you can be fined for engine idling! If it doesn't get better then I'd contact 101 and maybe they could send someone out on a few occasions to make an example of some folk and it would hopefully then stop.

FrancisCrawford · 29/02/2020 08:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GameChange123 · 29/02/2020 08:49

Thirding suggestion about contacting the school. Our local primary run a poster competition for the best turn off your engine message! Maybe suggest something like that?

Original poster
Singingatmidnight · 29/02/2020 08:50

Thanks all, maybe I'll contact the school first of all. If I know the school has sent out a recent reminder, I'll also feel more confident approaching people.

OP posts:
DobbyLovesSocks · 29/02/2020 08:56

I don't understand people who let their engines idle. Not least for the environmental aspect, doesn't it use up petrol? I know not much but it would soon add up surely

RAOK · 29/02/2020 08:59

It is so selfish of them. Contact the school in the first instance so they can put it in their newsletters etc.

Herocomplex · 29/02/2020 09:01

It’s also an offence, there’s a fine.

Boom45 · 29/02/2020 09:03

Get in touch with your local councillors - I live near a school and we had the same problem and they've put a bunch of signs up and the traffic wardens have been fining people for it. It's made a big difference- especially when the school included it in the newsletter and said how many fines had been issued...

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 29/02/2020 09:05

YANBU OP but as PP said , just be prepared for a not so polite response.
It may all be fine , but there is the chance it will be some mouthy person.

81Byerley · 29/02/2020 09:05

I have a very good email relationship with the manager of a local nursery. I wrote to her because of a parking problem, asking her if she could speak to parents and carers, and she did. She asked me to please contact her again if there were further problems, which a year later, I have done. She told me that she had emailed all parents, and they would speak personally to anyone she saw doing the thing I'd complained about. I suggest that you contact the school, keep it friendly, and you might get a better response.

EvilPea · 29/02/2020 09:05

It’s a pet hate of mine. Seemed especially bad in summer when they sit with the air con on. Without a hint of irony about the heatwave we were in and the engine running.

Blackandgreenteas · 29/02/2020 09:07

Yeah I think contact the school.

I remember complaining about this to the nursery my son went to, although I don’t think it stopped them! They did put it in the newsletter though.

We get it at our school too, but they’ve put up a big poster made by children asking parents to stop idling.

MimiLaRue · 29/02/2020 09:08

I HATE people who do this. Its disgusting and polluting, selfish and vile. There was a thread recently where someone said a woman next door would sit in her car idling for hours. Some people were like "oh well she might be having a mental health crisis" - you can still do that with the engine off FFS. People who idle disgust me. I dont know why it induces so much rage in me- probably because its so easy to just turn the bloody engine off. Is it really that much hassle to start it again? urgh hate it!

SnowyPetals · 29/02/2020 09:13

What is the reason for leaving the engine running? I really don't get what "benefit" there is to the selfish, anti-social people who do this.

Original poster
Singingatmidnight · 29/02/2020 09:18

I think it's usually so they can run the heating, but the one time I asked someone she said she needed it on to use the car handfree phone.

I didn't feel like getting into an argument about the difference between turning the electrics on and turning the engine on...

OP posts:
JesusInTheCabbageVan · 29/02/2020 09:18

Snowy absolutely.

I can't believe it's not receiving more attention, given people are getting more into environmental measures. At the least, it should be an automatic offence (currently it's only an offence if the driver refuses to switch off when asked).

Taciturn · 29/02/2020 09:19

If they are touching their phones with key in the ignition, they are breaking the law.

leiaskye · 29/02/2020 09:30

YANBU
it really annoys me too. Twice a week my daughter goes to a martial arts class. It’s 45 minutes & there are 2 parents in particular who sit in their cars for the duration with their engines idling.

It’s a residential street, & I wonder if it annoys the residents too.

I go for a run whilst my daughters in their & like to cool down outside the building before going in for her, but I’ve had to scrap this idea as I’m just breathing in their fumes!

I’m too much of a wuss to say anything to them so I just whinge to myself. There’s a waiting room inside, they don’t even need to sit in their car!

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