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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Idling cars

157 replies

VegMam · 09/12/2021 17:30

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)?

OP posts:
Technosaurus · 09/12/2021 22:26

I think it's obvious that there are some "one off" or "rare" occasions where people might idle cars. Newborns needing the sleep, urgent phone calls, medical grounds (appreciate my previous post may have been a bit dismissive, for which I apologise), a few other things.

But why do it near schools? Why do it in nursery car parks? Why do it anywhere where children and their not-fully-formed bronchioles might be present?

If it's such an emergency and the traffic is always terrible, show some consideration and park around the corner/further away... This is what the idlers never seem to do.

Fomofo · 09/12/2021 22:32

No-one forces anyone to put babies in cars in the first place

Fomofo · 09/12/2021 22:33

Surely it's just stupid to not know it's an issue

Fidgetty · 09/12/2021 22:37

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

Never knew these were an issue either?! Double whammy of naughtiness for me today...

Fidgetty · 09/12/2021 22:41

Surely it's just stupid to not know it's an issue

I'm guessing it comes down to geography and the people aware/concerned live in densely populated areas? I live in the sticks, really rural and have never heard a soul say anything about it. There's no problems with air pollution here so while it's obviously not good environmentally, it's technically not an "issue" in terms of air quality. If I asked someone to turn off their engine here I'd be laughed out of the place!

sst1234 · 09/12/2021 22:41

You interfere and approach random strangers to tell them to switch off their car engine. Miffed is a very measured response. Surprised they don’t use stronger language to tell you to mind your own.

Fidgetty · 09/12/2021 22:41

No-one forces anyone to put babies in cars in the first place

Now that's a stupid comment!

BoredZelda · 09/12/2021 22:43

However I did let them know that the nearby library was open, so there was a warm space to go without polluting the street.

Like that is any kind of solution for them. 🙄

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 09/12/2021 22:47

@TheVolturi

I do this but I drive an eV so am I forgiven?
If you drive a fully electric car you don't do this, because you can't.
yikesanotherbooboo · 09/12/2021 22:48

It is completely unreasonable and selfish. You see it all the time around schools despite the fact that there are residents and n the street having to put up with it.
I'm not sure what the emergencies are that might mean one has to do this but excepting those, please don't.

Onairjunkie · 09/12/2021 22:50

@Fomofo

No-one forces anyone to put babies in cars in the first place
I presume this is aimed at me as I’m the idler who had a newborn in the car and wanted air con as it was roasting.

I had to take my baby to hospital as he was sick and jaundiced and my blood pressure was off the chart and I had a splitting headache. The hospital staff made me wait in the car. They came for me with a wheelchair when they were ready. I had literally just had a C-section so I couldn’t walk that far. I did try though. And I live quite far from the hospital as I’m on a farm.

So what, pray tell, would you have done in that situation? I chose to keep the engine running to keep my new baby from overheating, not to mention myself. I felt terrible from the headache.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 09/12/2021 22:52

Like that is any kind of solution for them.

Why not? Are you suggesting builders can't/won't read?

pinkstripeycat · 09/12/2021 23:12

The Highway Code states: 'You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road'. ... However it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults.

DateLoaf · 09/12/2021 23:16

I absolutely hate it. Selfish gits constantly running their engines right outside the school waiting for their kids to get in. Turn it off!

batmanladybird · 09/12/2021 23:40

@meganorks

YANBU and it is actually illegal. But I doubt you will get much of a positive response telling people, just a load of abuse.
Is it illegal? I didn't know this.
megletthesecond · 10/12/2021 06:55

@GrannytoaUnicorn the police do deal with it actually Grin. The same way they deal with the dog mess problem on the estate.

Pleasegotosleep01 · 10/12/2021 07:05

We have a parent outside our DD school who does this with the fumes going straight onto the school gate where all the kids are lining up. I took the passive aggressive approach of asking the school to put a 'reminder' in the school's weekly newsletter but they ignored that. Last week knocked on the window and asked them to switch off - got grief for it but they did and have done so since.

jgw1 · 10/12/2021 07:09

@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)?

I can only assume it is because fuel is so cheap. The Chancellor shouldn't have frozen the fuel duty escalator.
adriennewillfly · 10/12/2021 07:25

I've always hated idling, really is a pet hate of mine. But I've just realised I even do it myself! In the morning, given the car is so cold, I have been idling to warm the car. I was doing it because you're not meant to have coats on kids in the car. But I'm going to give them a blanket instead.

mnp321 · 10/12/2021 07:33

I think there's a difference between turning the car on for a couple of minutes to warm it up if everyone is freezing and sitting there for half an hour.

It really irks me. 99% of people don't have a medical reason or necessity. Same at cricket matches, it's nice to sit and enjoy the peace without someone parking next to you and having their engine running for 3 hours.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 10/12/2021 07:37

Same thing, just because something is shorter it doesn’t mean it’s different.

LittleMG · 10/12/2021 08:49

What if you’re waiting for someone and you’re freezing cold. If someone came up to me me and I had my engine idling to keep my sleeping toddler warm I’d be pissed off. Perhaps if you are that worried about the environment stop eating meat or reduce your plastic waste or have solar panels fitted. Sorry but knocking on someone’s window to tell them to turn their car off is condescending and hypocritical.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 10/12/2021 08:56

@LittleMG

What if you’re waiting for someone and you’re freezing cold. If someone came up to me me and I had my engine idling to keep my sleeping toddler warm I’d be pissed off. Perhaps if you are that worried about the environment stop eating meat or reduce your plastic waste or have solar panels fitted. Sorry but knocking on someone’s window to tell them to turn their car off is condescending and hypocritical.
There is this rather wonderful invention called warm clothes and blankets. Your toddler is presumably not naked in the car.

Also, lay off the tired argument that it's all or nothing. Wahhh, someone is eating ham so my PBF and myself can do anything we want and sod anybody else.

Switch82 · 10/12/2021 08:59

If anyone wants some materials to support their school please look at the following :

www.mumsforlungs.org/

Also contact your local council they may have an anti-idling campaign that can go via your school so it’s not ‘parent on parent’

Switch82 · 10/12/2021 08:59

The pollution in a car is 3 times that outside so up to you if you want your newborn breathing it in…