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

[Higgeldypiggeldy35]

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?!

@treestumpsandtrampolines we aren't comparing how environmentally friendly keeping the car on Vs boiling the kettle/using the boiler at home. Using those facilities at home don't spew out poisonous gases that people breathe in in your car and outside it. I don't really understand what's hard to understand about that. I'm sorry but you are putting your child at risk by putting the engine on and idling. According to a pp 2 mins of engine on releases enough fumes to fill 300 balloons. And it takes longer than 2 mins to heat a car or you're then repeating the process in another 10 mins. You might not want to hear it but doesn't stop the fact being that you're risking your health and your child's health and people nearby's health

YANBU at all. There’s no need for them to do this and it’s so fucking selfish. And I’m with you on the smell of the fumes- makes me gag whether I’m pregnant or not.

@Newnamenewopenme

People get out of their car and leave it on? Is that really a thing? Doesn’t that just mean someone can steal their car because surely they can’t lock it? I’m assuming insurance wouldn’t cover it because they’ve virtually given the keys away!

I agree - how strange. It's never even crossed my mind to leave my car with the engine running

This really winds me up but I don't have the courage to confront parents doing this! So selfish. Usually the Chelsea tractors and Audis too. And these are parents who I know live a 5 minute walk away. The ones that piss me off the most park over the paved raised crossings so that kids can't even cross the road safely.

Those who leave it running while going for cash or a takeaway may find the insurance won't pay if it's stolen.

YANBU, there’s no excuse to leave your engine running. Don’t most cars have an engine cut off now? Our old car doesn’t but we have a newer one which cuts the engine when you stop.

Our 2015 Honda cuts off when idling at traffic lights.

[quote Higgeldypiggeldy35]@frazzled2207 that's what I've asked. It's a wonderful nursery and I'm sure they don't want the fumes coming in through their windows and doors either. I just don't understand people that live in their own world and don't think about their impact. Gives me rage. But that could also be pregnancy hormones[/quote]
So have a word with nursery and ask them to send out a letter with regard to health & safety plus it being illegal.

If it continues they may be able to get a PCSO to come and have a Word.

Car should not be left running if the driver is not in it. Its a safeguarding risk in a car park - what if they have been left in Drive if they are not manual etc etc

people need their heating on while they wait
Entitled attitude, which is the root of the problem... oddly enough people waiting for the bus manage too survive, or people walking.

To the 20% who voted YABU please look at yourself in the mirror, would you throw your trash on the floor? I suppose not, so why do you think it is ok to pollute the air??

A lot of people don’t realise that it’s illegal. Print off a bunch of leaflets at home with that stuff about how many exhaust the ballons fillup etc and making clear it is illegal, and ask the nursery to send the leaflets home with the children.

Totally reasonable.

People are lazy.

Not unreasonable, doing god’s work.
It irritates the shut out of me that people don’t seem able to bear 2 minutes without the heater on. I got my child to make posters for the playground asking cars to shut down and showing how 4x4 exhausts are at child face level. The school ended up getting on board and sending kids around to knock on windows and telling them to turn off. Many still didn’t.

I think if you're parked somewhere for more than about 30 seconds, the engine needs to be turned off.

It's not too bad if the kids just get out of the car and then you drive straight off, but if you're going to collect them and speak with teachers I don't understand why you'd leave the engine on in that situation.

Other than anything else, are they not slightly concerned that the car might be stolen?

Who says people are leaving the car? The passenger could be running out to the cash machine etc , it is probably lazyness but it won’t make a jot of difference

Are the people getting chilly living in northern Scotland or do they have reynauds? If so, I understand you may be cold.

In the rest of the UK it is rarely that cold. You just need to be prepared. Thermal socks, thermals under clothes, scarves, hats, gloves, blankets.
Have you never watched any sport outside in the winter? Dress like that!

I hate it too when parents stop outside the school gates on the zigzag lines then hop out to get the child out. Totally inconveniencing anyone else on the narrow road with a big fuck you. So dangerous.