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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Aibu to ask parents to shut off their engines whilst dropping kids at nursery

92 replies

Higgeldypiggeldy35 · 27/11/2020 07:49

Real bee in my bonnet today because for the 4th day in a row when dropping off my toddler at nursery and trying to wrestle him back into his shoes/coat, some thoughtless parent has left the engine running on their car whilst dropping off their kid and having a chat with staff. I'm pregnant so maybe I'm a bit more sensitive to the smell of car fumes but it was making me gag, by I'm more concerned about the little toddlers running around at fumes height. I've asked them to request parents turn their engines off when in the car park. Now I'm worried I'll be seen as THAT parent haha. I think their should be signs up in the car park because I'm sure most parents don't want their and other folk's kids exposed to toxic fumes, but why don't they just think?!

OP posts:

Rosebel · 27/11/2020 08:17

It's increibe really. I'm sure most parents or people in general don't break the law. Yet get in their car and it's a whole different story.
I might be tempted to ask the police to come by at drop off/pick up time so they can talk to the parents.

Wherehavetheteletubbiesgone · 27/11/2020 08:20

@nosswith

Film a couple of them, report to the police.

Unfortunately the best option which would be if the car was unlocked to get in and drive it half a mile away and leave it there would probably end up with your being accused of theft.

Sounds like a good ideas I wouldn't but I don't think you would be done for theft. As theft is to permanently deny the other person ownership and taking without consent is what you are doing as you are not stealing the car permanently just moving it. This is defined in the 1968 theft act.

Angel2702 · 27/11/2020 08:20

I’m surprised people aren’t aware of it being a findable offence and how damaging it is. There are posters everywhere where I live and it is regularly enforced.

Coseynightin · 27/11/2020 08:22

Oh please, the idling police are in action and probably hypocrites, don’t do it outside of school but probably have done it when getting cash or dashing for a takeaway.

LITHIUMcomeasUare · 27/11/2020 08:24

YANBU

There are some very selfish people/unthinking people our there.

Get the nursery to add to it's newsletter or guidance.

Original poster

Higgeldypiggeldy35 · 27/11/2020 08:25

@becomestronger I don't accept the needing heating on excuse. They need to wear more layers. Most aren't waiting more than 10 mins, I'm sure they'll survive

OP posts:

Fleetwoodmacs · 27/11/2020 08:27

I used to do it when my oldest was napping as it was the only time she slept, and the second the engine stopped she would wake up 😭

Thank fuck that phase is over.

Other than that I agree, what's the point of leaving it running anyway?

BecomeStronger · 27/11/2020 08:33

[quote Higgeldypiggeldy35]@becomestronger I don't accept the needing heating on excuse. They need to wear more layers. Most aren't waiting more than 10 mins, I'm sure they'll survive [/quote]
I don't accept it either but that's their reasoning

Frazzled2207 · 27/11/2020 08:37

@Coseynightin

Oh please, the idling police are in action and probably hypocrites, don’t do it outside of school but probably have done it when getting cash or dashing for a takeaway.

Actually, no. It’s unacceptable anywhere but particularly outside a school/nursery.

ZoeTurtle · 27/11/2020 08:37

YANBU. And being cold is not an excuse. Suck it up, buttercups.

nosswith · 27/11/2020 08:40

Those with the heating excuse probably spent ages putting on make up, time they could have spent getting out that extra layer.

LemonsYellow · 27/11/2020 08:45

@Coseynightin

Oh please, the idling police are in action and probably hypocrites, don’t do it outside of school but probably have done it when getting cash or dashing for a takeaway.

Don’t be ridiculous. Who would ever leave their engines idling while getting cash or a takeaway? No sensible person would ever do that.

Original poster

Higgeldypiggeldy35 · 27/11/2020 08:49

@lemonsyellow unfortunately I have seen this many times. Delivery drivers leaving engine running outside my house while they walk up to my door to drop off a parcel or people leaving engine running while they get their cash out. I live in what would be considered a safe low crime area so I wonder whether people assume noone would steal their car. Who knows. There are a lot of people out there with no common sense

OP posts:

Cygne · 27/11/2020 08:50

I think this is awful outside all school but people need their heating on while they wait.

Why? It's ten minutes at most. If they've got coats and they had their heating on on the way there, surely they won't get that cold?

Cygne · 27/11/2020 08:52

Would people who leave an engine running while they get cash explain why? I don't understand what the problem is in just turning it off before you get out of the car, and then turning it on when you drive off.

Original poster

Higgeldypiggeldy35 · 27/11/2020 08:54

@cygne there will never be a sensible answer to that question because there isn't one

OP posts:

NotBrigitteBardot · 27/11/2020 08:57

This is a really annoying problem. No point in challenging people as they are quite likely to be aggressive. What is needed is a high profile public campaign - this is the sort of thing the Daily Mail is good at - are you reading this Daily Mail?

Branleuse · 27/11/2020 08:58

idling the engline for no reason causes so much extra pollution. I try and even turn mine off at traffic lights if possible. It would be worth talking to the head of the school and asking for a note to parents to not do this

40weekswithno2 · 27/11/2020 09:00

I think this is awful outside all school but people need their heating on while they wait.

They won't freeze without heating while they wait.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 27/11/2020 09:00

Yes, please!

cologne4711 · 27/11/2020 09:00

@user1494050295

You are not unreasonable it’s an effing disgrace people do this

This. They're selfish tw*ts Especially when combined when parking on a pavement.

It is actually illegal but of course there's nobody around to enforce it, and traffic wardens go for soft targets like people who've overstayed their welcome in a car park by 5 minutes.

cologne4711 · 27/11/2020 09:01

@40weekswithno2

I think this is awful outside all school but people need their heating on while they wait.

They won't freeze without heating while they wait.

No they don't! Wear a coat! I have an extra coat in my car in the winter, and if I have to wait around for any length of time (eg when my son has his athletics) I wear one coat and wrap the spare one around me.

tackiestones · 27/11/2020 09:02

I worked at a school where the children felt so strongly about it, they borrowed the hi vis jackets, printed up fliers and went on a little patrol outside. It's likely an adult put them up to it but it was very effective. Not something a nursery could get away with, though.

TreestumpsAndTrampolines · 27/11/2020 09:03

I don't sit with the engine running, but, if you are going to be waiting a while (eg. we have to wait in the car while our kids do sportsclubs at the moment), then you might have to turn it on to warm a car up and then turn it off again after a bit - especially if other children are in the car.

remember it's dangerous to wear a thick coat under a seat-belt, and if you're going to have to get out to wrestle a coat on then get back in, you've just lost half the heat out of your car to do it.

cherrytree63 · 27/11/2020 09:07

Not a nursery situation but I live near a chip shop and people park outside my house eating their fish and chips with their engines running.
I live in a listed cottage which I can't have double glazing, no front garden and the fumes come in my house and make me feel nauseous.
I'm that Grinch resident asking people to move on

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