WIBU to ask them to stop idling their engines?

[Singingatmidnight]

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?

Our school recently sent out a letter asking all parents to switch engines off, just ask them to do that. Lots of people won't take notice but lots will, every little helps.

I used to walk past a woman who did this for 25 mins plus. Outside a school on her phone, engine on just plainly giving no fucks. I despised this woman. We've moved now but apparently she still does it.

Yanbu. Although they'll probably give you a mouth full of abuse.
I just take pictures and send it to the council so the traffic warden can wander down there and deal with it. It's always the same parents at the same time each week.

I presume the woman wants her phone is connected to the car so that she can use hands free @Taciturn

But she doesn't need to have the engine on - it stays connected until you turn it off.

I'd contact the school in the first instance and if it makes no difference, I'd contact the police. A PCSO dishing out a few tickets can be quite effective.

As for the cost of running the engine, people who drive big cars and park on double yellows don't generally care about that (not their impact on the environment)

Our schools after school duty staff go up to anyone with an engine running and ask them to turn their engine off. Annoyingly the main culprits are the taxi’s and minibuses arranged by the council.

Most children walk to our school, so while frustrating it isn’t a huge problem for us.

And workmen in vans do this alot too

There are campaigns all over the uk to fight this. Cant believe people still do it. Heres just one that a dad started
www.littleninja.co.uk

Along the same lines. I was driving yesterday through a housing estate. There was a chippy and a co op. On my side I was driving two young guys sitting with there car lights on facing in my direction. Couldn’t see a bloody thing. With the lights at the chippy it made it a lot worse. It looked like the cars full beam was on. I couldn’t see what was coming in the other direction. I slowed down and shouted to them to get there lights off. I just got abuse. I did expect that lol.

At out school some sit for at least half an hour with engines on. I would speak to the school.

I would contact the school and council as suggested, but also knock on window with polite request. I find it difficult but do it all the time because I feel like I'm letting my children down if I don't. Most of the time it is absolutely fine, when people are difficult about it you can just walk away knowing you are right and they are the ones being unreasonable! I wish more people would do it as social pressure does have an effect. DH and I have noticed people we have spoken to in past don't do it anymore.

I guess they are running heating/Aircon/radio. They need to get a book. And a jumper.

In view of the HIghway code link, is it even legal to sit in a car with the engine running? In Germany we had to switch off when waiting at a level crossing!
In our previous house the neighbours' son used their garage even though he didn't live there. He had a boy-racer car and arrived at about 2am, he would rev the car, leave it running while he opened the garage than rev it into the garage, revving it for a further couple of minutes. Another neighbour asked him to be a bit more considerate about young children sleeping and got a visit from the law, a racial offence had been reported, they were Hong Kong Chinese!

It is illegal, punishable by fine of up to £80 (if they refuse turn off when asked by an official) This is my next line if people refuse. Usually doesn't have much effect with the stubborn ones, but people are often unaware of it.

I live beside a school and this is really annoying. A big car sounds like an airplane taking off in my house. I emailed the head of the school and said it was dangerous for emissions and noise pollution. Not as bad now. But it took 3 emails.
I always find it ironic these people are sitting right beside the school so their darlings don’t have to walk (it’s a long street, they could park a tiny bit further away) and yet quite happily poison everyone with their fumes.
Rant over 🤪

I'd ask the school to get involved. Our school has a big sign about air pollution and idling cars

Love the way on which 'the school' is expected to police this, parking etc etc. All they can do is ask parents not to do it, beyond that it's not their responsibility, let them get on with educating your children. As a teacher I would have refused to involve myself in any policing of the area around the school, bus duty was bad enough!

That is all anyone could expect the school to do, but if the parents of a schools’ pupils are being inconsiderate/breaking the law I would expect the school to handle the issue, in the same way I would expect a hospital’s management or shop’s staff to do so.

Could you contact your local community police officer? If they are sat on double yellows, with the engine running and using a mobile, isn't that's three seperate offences? And it happens at the same time everyday, should be easy work for the police.

I would love you for saying something.
I do ask people not to sometimes but I’m the only one that I know who does. If we all did it would make more people think about how antisocial and polluting it is.

@Taciturn most cars have push button ignition these days. I’d assume it’s more about whether they are creating a danger to other road users than something like that though?

Regina most cars on the road still need a key to start. I think around half of new cars made these days are push button ignition, but the majority of people will be driving older cars anyway

We have just got a brand new automatic van and the engine cuts out automatically when I'm waiting at traffic lights etc. Got to be better, despite freaking me out each time

YANBU these people are being selfish fuckers but I would approach the school about all the issues- engine idling and also the bad and illegal parking and anything else.

My daughter’s primary school put out a letter about once every 2 months reminding parents and carers to be considerate of everyone else including people living on the same street as the school and it would work for a certain amount of time and then they’d need reminders. However, the odd times people would confront others about their appalling driving/parking all hell would break loose.