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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask why people leave their engine running?

160 replies

Idontlikecheesecake · 02/09/2020 14:48

I hate seeing people sitting in the cars, on their phone and the engine is running. Why do it? Do they not realise the climate is in crisis? And it’s wasting their fuel thus wasting their money. I walked through the car park at work today and I must have seen at least 4 cars with their engines running and the drivers were just sat on their phones. I was tempted to knock on some of their windows and tell them to turn the engine off, but I imagine that would be unreasonable (would it???). I genuinely want to know why people do it?

OP posts:

Burnthurst187 · 03/09/2020 10:02

Why, because they are lazy. If they turn the engine off they will need to turn it on again shortly

I've seen many, many cars left ticking over recently. Couriers and food delivery. Stupid really as I could have just jumped in and driven off

Elai1978 · 03/09/2020 10:24

@AntiHop for some of us cars and driving are our passion. Fast, noisy cars are a way of life and a great source of entertainment. Nothing beats a blast in a fast convertible on a summer’s day, driving just for the sake of it.

meanderingthrough · 03/09/2020 10:31

You really don't need to have your engine running to charge a phone.

SweetPetrichor · 03/09/2020 10:47

I don’t stop my car unless I have to. Older car which can be a bit of a pain about starting again!

SerenDippitty · 03/09/2020 10:53

I agree OP. I have done it to recharge the battery when I was having trouble earlier in lockdown but that’s the only time I would.

ForestDad · 03/09/2020 11:10

Yup, inconsiderate people. Being a bit warm/cold vs people outside breathing in fumes and hearing the noise.
I have a Euro 6 diesel with stop start, dpf etc. More complicated and expensive but I don't feel bad driving in a city. I pride myself on minimum time from engine start to start moving.
My neighbour (30 years ago) used to leave his car idling to warm up for 10-15mins every day in Winter for his probable 2 mile urban commute. Smelly old petrol engine.

ForestDad · 03/09/2020 11:12

Running a relatively massive engine to charge a phone is bonkers btw.

A full charge on a phone would be a couple of % of the capacity of the car's battery.

safariboot · 03/09/2020 11:23

YANBU. I think about now, yes there'll be the occasional person with car problems or needing the engine on to run electrics, but 90% of people idling are just doing it because they don't think.

In winter or heatwaves there'll be more people who keep the engine on to keep the heating/AC on.

And yes, unnecessary idling on the public highway is unlawful, and I believe this includes public car parks.

Elai1978 · 03/09/2020 11:52

And yes, unnecessary idling on the public highway is unlawful, and I believe this includes public car parks.

Considering the punishment is a £20/40 fine if you refuse to turn it off after being requested to by an appropriate official It might as well be legal. Hardly a deterrent.

50shadesoflunacy · 03/09/2020 12:00

To all those that think it is acceptable to park up outside someone's house, some twat has been sat outside mine for at least 15 mins with his engine running while on the phone. I am trying to work from home (and will be until at least January). Think of the people around you, who may be doing what I'm doing and who don't appreciate the really fucking irritating noise of someone doing this!

DalzielandPaxo · 03/09/2020 12:34

@Elai1978 my dad drives a vintage car that requires lead adding to the fuel and I drive an old noisy, fast muscle car. Absolute passion. And nothing sounds better than hearing the deep rumble of it idling. Dreamy.

Elai1978 · 03/09/2020 12:37

@DalzielandPaxo a big V8 with a lumpy cam at idle is a joyful thing to behold.

Wherearemymarbles · 03/09/2020 12:45

Because they are twats - and stupid ones at that.

You dont need to run the engine to listen to the radio or charge a phone. Some cars you can do both without even switching the ignition on.

Oliversmumsarmy · 03/09/2020 12:48

Get in, turn car on and then decide to check phone before pulling away? 10 mins can go by easily

This is an offence.

If you need to check your phone your keys need to be not in the ignition.

Elai1978 · 03/09/2020 12:58

This is an offence.

Not on your drive it isn’t. I can sit on my drive on the phone all day with the engine running if I choose.

ragged · 03/09/2020 16:43

Occasionally I have asked someone to turn off their idling machine, the fumes bother me a lot. The most common answer when they won't turn off is that the engine is dodgy and may not turn on again if they turn it off.

DoubleDolphin · 03/09/2020 17:06

"09:48ivykaty44

Ivykaty...that's a whole different ballgame to sitting in their car in a carpark on their phone."

"dolphin, would you like to explain why it is different?"

Pretty obvious isnt it, they are not driving in traffic and using their phone? Did you really need an explanation?

DoubleDolphin · 03/09/2020 17:07

"And yes, unnecessary idling on the public highway is unlawful, and I believe this includes public car parks."

The public Highway doesnt include public car parks. And doubt the police have the time to patrol car parks.

newmumwithquestions · 03/09/2020 20:11

Someone I know was fined for idling in a council run car park (to run air con). I think more people need to be for the social norms to change on this.

ivykaty44 · 03/09/2020 20:18

Pretty obvious isnt it, they are not driving in traffic and using their phone? Did you really need an explanation?

so its not illegal then to use a phone in the car with an engine running in a car park?

Cos everywhere else it is illegal to use your phone with the engine running, lay- byes etc

LadyGrey66 · 03/09/2020 20:34

My delightful new neighbour likes to sit in his car, engine on, crappy music cranked to the max through his bass speakers to enjoy a nice 30 minute fag break. Three times so far today, and until 11pm last night. Can’t decide whether I should ask him to turn it down, but given that he thinks this is ok to do in the first place I doubt he’d be receptive. I could report him for not having tax or insurance, but the car being clamped and immovable is probably not in my best interests.

WildRosie · 03/09/2020 20:36

Years ago there was a van driver who used to park in the car park opposite my home every weekday morning at about 5 a.m. complete with large diesel engine running. It was as noisy as buggery and used to wake me up most mornings. Once I'd had enough I phoned the company name obligingly emblazoned on the side of the van and explained the problem to their fleet manager. Never happened again, thank goodness.

DoubleDolphin · 03/09/2020 21:33

"20:18ivykaty44

Pretty obvious isnt it, they are not driving in traffic and using their phone? Did you really need an explanation?

so its not illegal then to use a phone in the car with an engine running in a car park?"

Cos everywhere else it is illegal to use your phone with the engine running, lay- byes etc"

Ivykaty, you gave an example of a person getting photographed using their phone whilst driving in traffic. That is clearly different to what the op is talking about which is people sitting in parked cars in car parks. They are not driving, and they are not on the public Highway. So not illegal, no.

camelfinger · 03/09/2020 21:49

I assume it’s because petrol is too cheap and people are very selfish.

FOKKYFC · 03/09/2020 21:53

Of course YANBU. It's selfish AF and not one of the limp noodle reasons given on here even remotely approaches the threshold of a reasonable excuse. Shows how depressingly widespread it is.

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