Idling cars

[VegMam]

AIBU to ask people with engines idling to switch them off (primary culprits are workmen and parents at schools)?

It’s terribly polluting and totally unnecessary. Drives me mad and I don’t know why so many people do it (and seem miffed when you ask them to switch their engines off)?

Reading the thread - yes some people have a good reason for idling such as medical need. I’m not suggesting everyone should be challenged or that those who have these needs are doing anything wrong.

But those with good reason are going to be the tiny minority of those who idle. It’s fair enough for OP to have a rant!

@Girlmum89

I left my car idolling because I thought that it actually used more fuel to turn it off and turn it back on again rather than leave it running. Is this not right then?

No this is not right at all. The car is started by the battery which is normally recharged when you’re driving. Think about all those cars with stop-start that’s to save fuel. A lot of restarting does wear out the battery (cars with auto stop start have bigger/more expensive batteries) but it’s not an issue under ‘normal’ driving conditions.

@bungaloid

I get that it's unnecessary, but as a proportion of total vehicle origin pollution, how much is really caused by idling cars? It won't be burning much fuel idling either. That's why I can't get too worked up about it, legality or not.

Idling generally produces more emissions than a car in motion.

Considering air pollution is estimated to kill 40k people in the UK annually (and children are particularly vulnerable), I can get worked up about it.

I'm with you on this, OP.
I have been known to open the door and turn off the engine if the car is empty.

It's bloody thoughtless, polluting and almost always unnecessary.

[quote GrannytoaUnicorn]@VegMam If you even dared saying a word to me, you'd find yourself being lectured on judging people! I have essential medical equipment which requires power to work. On the odd occasion I have to sit in my car for a few mins, if I don't keep the engine on, I have to use my portable oxygen backpack. I only have so much of this and it has to be used whenever I'm away from my oxygen machine including any power cuts!
I also have a friend who's body is unable to regulate temperature in any way at all. She permanently requires either A/C or heating. She barely leaves the house but when she does, she stays in the car whilst her husband does the shopping etc as she needs either AC Or heat, as I said. I cannot imagine how she'd feel is she got some virtue signalling busy body squawking at her.

Mind you own business!!![/quote]
Why so much aggression? If I dared ask you politely to switch your engine off why not nicely respond that you’re not in a position to do so?

Pollution is everyone’s business and the vast majority of idlers have no good reason for doing so.

I bloody hate it. One of the dads reversed his car right up to the fence at the kids' hockey training so his exhaust was pumping directly towards the kids playing on the astro on the other side of the fence. Just why? After 40 minutes, I couldn't help but politely ask him whether he'd consider turning it off. Which he did in fairness.

@GrannytoaUnicorn I can guarantee the people who sit with idling engines outside a primary school aren't doing it for medical reasons.

I understand people have to drive and have exceptional circumstances, most won't.

I have asthma. Daughter has asthma. Idling engines makes it hard for us to breathe due to fumes.

We get this all the time as live opposite a secondary school. Parents arrive up to half an hour before chucking out time, leaving engines idling. The school regularly emails them about it but to little effect. Quite a few of us (residents) trot out from time to time and ask them to switch off. Most do so, some are arsey and so it continues.

We live in a city with air quality way below accepted limits so idling isn't helping. Maybe Grant Shapps could apply his nodding, vacant grin to this particular problem.

It also seems to be a thing in supermarket car parks since covid;one goes in to shop and the other sits for an hour with the engine on.

i do this tbh, the car is the only way i can get my baby to sleep and unless i do this she wakes right back up again. it’s either that or drive aimlessly in circles

@evangeline12

i do this tbh, the car is the only way i can get my baby to sleep and unless i do this she wakes right back up again. it’s either that or drive aimlessly in circles

Have you tried a white noise machine in the house?

I’m with you OP, it’s vile. And as you say the statistics on a) the effects of air pollution and b) the amount of emissions generated by idling cars vs. cars in motion are shocking.

I’m sure there are a very tiny proportion of people who need to leave their engines running for medical or other important reasons. But no, given that air pollution kills 40,000 people a year, none of us should have to mind our own business on it. If you are going to sit outside houses, schools, hospitals and shops and pump carbon monoxide, arsenic and PM2.5 into the air other people breath, then you need a good reason. If you have one then great.

But to be honest, I think even idling cars are nothing on the privileged selfishness that is woodburning stoves.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon works at bedtime but not at nap time sadly

[quote Stellaris22]@GrannytoaUnicorn I can guarantee the people who sit with idling engines outside a primary school aren't doing it for medical reasons.

I understand people have to drive and have exceptional circumstances, most won't.

I have asthma. Daughter has asthma. Idling engines makes it hard for us to breathe due to fumes.[/quote]
You can guarantee that can you? So why was I sat outside my daughter's school doing this for medical reasons at 3pm today?

@VegMam You & I both know you wouldn't have 'politely asked' at all

@VegMam Even if you did and I 'politely refused' you'd either become rude or demand to know why. At which point I'd have no choice but to declare my medical issues. I shouldn't have to do this! How about you give people the benefit of the doubt and stop being such a busybody, presuming everyone is in the wrong!

It's great to see how it's fine to ignore asthma sufferers. My struggling to breathe (and daughters) is fine.

I don't see how 5 cars have urgent medical reasons to idle.

In no way saying medical reasons can't idle, but understand the majority aren't doing this for medical reasons.

Try being less aggressive.

Someone who drops off at my childminder leaves theirs idling the whole time. Once they went inside and left it going for at least half an hour- probably longer. I don’t get it.

Yanbu- it’s one of my pet hates!

It's particularly bad where I live. Sometimes they sit for hours. There is Idling Action London and there is also a website called living streets which has something about idling on there.

It's really up to local councils and local people to do something about it in their own area. I've read somewhere locally that a neighbouring borough, Elmbridge, has an active anti- idling campaign. There's nothing like that here as far as I know.

@Sirzy

Drives me mad.

I have noticed a correlation between those who need to be an hour early for school pick up and those who do this!

Like DixonD I used to arrive for primary school pickup on the days I worked at around 2.30.

School was on my way home from a full day at work (I started early) and I was in the middle of therapy for PTSD and would recline my seat and do 30 minutes of listening to mindfulness podcasts, so it was time well spent.

I didn't leave me engine running but it was tremendously helpful for me to be there early so I take issue with a stranger passing comment on what others 'need'.

"why was I sat outside a school idling my car today" (because there was no possible other place to wait)

Because you're a selfish twat who prioritises their own needs above those of EVERY OTHER CHILD at that particular school? Idling a car is the preserve of the wanker. I don't doubt you have your reasons but willfully doing it outside a school, then claiming medical grounds, is 24 carat mental. Presumably you can't actually ever get out of the car if it's that important?

If you are a Granny to a Unicorn, it makes sense as Unicorns will have as much chance as existing as the next generation with your attitude.

Vulturi, yes you're forgiven because you're very special

YANBU but i wouldn’t tell someone off because I’d expect to be argued with. The school run is the worst.

I never knew this was such a big deal? Also never knew it was illegal - when did that happen? Even so I'm agog that you actually ask people to switch it off though?! do you just tap on random strangers windows? I would think someone deranged doing that.

Surprised this hasn't happened to me since I also drive one of those aforementioned "most hated" cars too. In answer to your question I do it do it when I'm really cold and want the heat on. It's rare to be fair but I shall be more mindful in the future!

@Onairjunkie

There are these new fangled things called "windows" and you can "open" them. Or just go for a walk and find some shade to wait in!

I was waiting for this. It was boiling and still, there was no breeze. The car park had no shade. The car was absolutely roasting. Opening windows would make fuck all difference. My baby was days old. Also we had to wait in our cars, those were the instructions. It was so they could find you for your appointment, and also they couldn’t force women and babies to loiter loose around a car park, forcing them to be at increased risk from moving cars. Think. 🧠

If you weren’t arriving by car, you had to phone ahead so they could arrange somewhere for you to wait. This was balls deep in the first lockdown.

And we all know how dangerous hot cars are for children/babies and dogs so l don't blame you one bit

It's actually terrible to do that around children. Just shocking.