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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:
MLMshouldbeillegal · 10/12/2021 09:00

Of course you are not being unreasonable.

But you will get the same responses as you get from the people who park like twats. It's only 2 minutes. It's cold. It's not affecting you anyway.

Entitled, selfish fuckers.

Yants · 10/12/2021 09:15

Living next door to a small community centre where people pull up outside my house it always seems to be those driving diesel cars that are the worst offenders, people driving petrol engined cars never seem to leave them running when parked up waiting to pick someone up.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 10/12/2021 09:15

Oh and BTW your sleeping toddler and you are exposed to higher levels of pollution despite sitting in the car itself.

Enjoy!

RedToothBrush · 10/12/2021 09:19

There is definitely a correlation between type of car and whether the driver ignores the requests from the school not to idle the engine whilst waiting for pickup.

There is also a correlation with parents who have kids who are little shits.

Im sure theres some scientific research to be done in there.

Daftasabroom · 10/12/2021 09:30

@Evergreenblue you only need to idle a hybrid if you are not using it for an extended period of time. You absolutely do not need to idle it if you are using the vehicle on a daily or even weekly basis.

Fidgetty · 10/12/2021 09:31

So much aggression over this... it's an eye opener for sure!

Mudflaps · 10/12/2021 09:33

I don't see much of it where I live to be honest, I often do the school run with my niece and nephew, its a small rural school where most children arrive and leave by car but no one seems to hang around waiting, drop and go, arrive on time to collect so no idling required, maybe its because we're not battling traffic to get there. On a different note I changed my car recently, it has a 'rest' button, after turning the ignition off I turn on this button and it uses residual heat from the engine to heat the car, works for about 30 minutes, its great.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 10/12/2021 09:37

So much aggression over this... it's an eye opener for sure!

Frustration. The idler gets to drive off and I have to walk through the stinking poisonous cloud of exhaust he leaves behind. Cold days are often still, so the gases linger for the pedestrians to breathe in for longer.

Felix125 · 10/12/2021 09:48

@Burnt0utMum

Probably to keep warm or to leave the radio on without risking draining the battery
There's loads of other equipment on the vans/cars which need a charge. Lap-tops, mobile devices, body cams, ANPR cameras, defibs (sometimes).

We can of course sit in a police station to do this, but I think we need to be more visible in the public areas.

Evergreenblue · 10/12/2021 09:59

[quote Daftasabroom]@Evergreenblue you only need to idle a hybrid if you are not using it for an extended period of time. You absolutely do not need to idle it if you are using the vehicle on a daily or even weekly basis.[/quote]
Did you not read where I said "if you do not use them a lot" .

No obviously not, go back to your pearl clutching.

Itsnotover · 10/12/2021 10:00

YANBU - the selfish bastard workmen do this on our road - why should we have to breathe that in?

Daftasabroom · 10/12/2021 10:38

@Evergreenblue apologies, I missed that bit, my bad.

The government could have required all vehicles sold in the UK to be auto stop start enabled ten years ago. This could massively improve urban air quality.

2pinkginsplease · 10/12/2021 10:41

I have sympathy with workmen, my dh works outside and has his van idling during the winter months at lunch time to give them a heat and to dry off their clothes on a wet day.

Nemorth · 10/12/2021 11:31

I used to take my DD to football. In effort to cut down on unnecessary journeys I'd wait in the car park for her.

In the winter I'd sit under the blanket we keep in the car (winter prep) with my coat, hat and fingerless gloves on.

If I was super organised I'd have taken a flask of tea and a hot water bottle!

Scotland, windy coastal area so definitely cold outside. Sometimes I ended up too warm without the need to run my engine for heat.

No need to sit with engine idling. So many other cars used to though.

With a few exceptions there is no good reason to sit with an engine idling. Think of all the money (fuel costs) that's just idling away...and the wear and tear on the car...and the air pollution.

With the price of fuel nowadays I'm surprised anyone can afford to let their car idle.

I don't have a fancy stop-start engine but I turn my engine off even at traffic lights. I can see from my trip counter and average mile petrol counter that it makes a difference.

Nemorth · 10/12/2021 11:34

@2pinkginsplease

I have sympathy with workmen, my dh works outside and has his van idling during the winter months at lunch time to give them a heat and to dry off their clothes on a wet day.
Could they pack a spare set of dry clothes and take blankets with them?

If they have the van there's space to store and change.

He could also look into other heating options to keep them warm. Maybe a tent heater (designed to be used off grid) could be used safely in the van?

You may have spotted a gap in the market! Someone needs to invent a safe, energy efficient heater for people who work outdoors but have a van to shelter in.

Sirzy · 10/12/2021 11:42

Hgvs have night heaters which will run to keep it warm overnight without needing engines on or anything so I am sure similar could be used for workmen!

Pigsears · 10/12/2021 11:48

Every morning dad drives mum and two primary age children 1.5 miles to the school- on a school street- and dad idles car whilst mum pops out and deposits children at each classroom door.

No disabilities (hidden or otherwise) Many families walk from the area they live in- some with younger (and more) children.

You wont be surprised to know that he drives a SUV.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 10/12/2021 11:56

@Sirzy

Hgvs have night heaters which will run to keep it warm overnight without needing engines on or anything so I am sure similar could be used for workmen!
Watch out! those night heaters burn diesel and they don't have any of the emissions devices like the diesel engines now have to. Their exhaust (yes they have one) is much dirtier than any current engine - but obviously use a lot less fuel.
RedToothBrush · 10/12/2021 12:28

@Pigsears

Every morning dad drives mum and two primary age children 1.5 miles to the school- on a school street- and dad idles car whilst mum pops out and deposits children at each classroom door.

No disabilities (hidden or otherwise) Many families walk from the area they live in- some with younger (and more) children.

You wont be surprised to know that he drives a SUV.

Its the family in the mini van that live next door but one to me who take the biscuit.

It is a 5 minute walk to school, and because of the road lay out its quicker to walk. I know because if we leave at the same time I usually get their first.

In the afternoon she leaves at 2pm for a 3.10pm pick up to make sure she gets the best space. Then sits there with the engine on.

Strangely enough she's been complaining about how she's put on weight and has developed a heart problem in the last 12 months.

I struggle with sympathy tbh.

Shade17 · 10/12/2021 13:20

I don't have a fancy stop-start engine but I turn my engine off even at traffic lights. I can see from my trip counter and average mile petrol counter that it makes a difference.

That’s not the best idea, you’re putting a lot more strain on battery/starter motor than they were designed for. Any fuel savings you make are likely to be wiped out by premature failure of one or the other.

MarshasMincePies · 10/12/2021 14:17

Very easy to take issue with it when you’re not the one working outside in the cold all day with only a van for any proper warmth I think…..

Thecurliestwurly · 10/12/2021 14:27

I've had to idle my car when waiting in traffic a few times just after leaving my house as I haven't driven my car for a while and was worried it wouldn't start again. Normally wouldn't, but a car with a dead battery in front of a huge queue of traffic would be a much bigger problem to everyone. I actually have to drive it for no particular reason sometimes to keep the battery going, as I barely use my car and only for short journeys where I can't carry things home.

Just wanted you to know that sometimes there is an alternative explanation OP.

Stellaris22 · 10/12/2021 14:40

Being in traffic is very different to idling whilst sat outside a primary school, with adults and pre schoolers queuing and having no choice to breathe in the fumes.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 10/12/2021 14:55

Why not address that properly with the employer instead of poisoning the air by idling?

Fidgetty · 10/12/2021 17:51

I don't have a fancy stop-start engine but I turn my engine off even at traffic lights.

That's daft and extreme. Hope you don't hold up the people behind you as that really would be a pain in the arse!