To want to put stickers on idling cars

[CarsPunsAreExhausting]

I am getting so tired of the amount of traffic on the school run and especially people standing around with their engines running which increases the health problems involved a lot. Ideally the road would be closed completely to non-residents but as that seems too complicated to achieve at least the idling should be somehow dealt with as it’s not hard or disruptive to turn an engine off! I thought about getting stickers made asking people to turn it off and subtly sticking them on people’s car if they are idling but I don’t know if it’s too passive aggressive an approach? I’m not the most confrontational person and would struggle to just ask people (although I have done before) and also think the being shamed for it could be helpful! So I’d like to know people’s thoughts before doing so. There are endless meetings about the traffic situation at school yet nothing seems to be done and I thought this could be a small victory at least.

Idling isn't illegal if it's necessary. I need to run the heater.

I’ve got a disability, we don’t leave the car idling, because my disability doesn’t trump the law. I mean, you can idle your car to your heart’s content on private land, but not the public highway.

Having a Blue Badge helps me to park closer to my destination, it doesn’t mean I can break laws willy-bloody-nilly ffs.

But. Not all disabilities are the same.

I suffer if I'm cold. I have done as much as I can but when it gets cold I need to have the heat on in the car. Or it causes me real pain and will affect me disproportionately.

The law says that it's illegal if done unnecessarily.

For all the people who think this is okay, for whatever reason, do you realise it’s coming back into the car and fucking up your lungs?

A sticker could be classed as criminal damage, as it is based on the act it's self, glue and chemicals on stickers could and may damage the paint including the process of removal.

The Poolice may act but a private prosecution could be brought.

So how about mind your own business and keep your hands of other people's private property. If you want to play police officer join the police.

Well, the rest of me is fucked as it is so I suppose my lungs might as well be.

I can't function without my car. I can't function if I get cold.

I can't limit my children even further by not using my car to take them places (or couldn't, when they were young). They got the school bus from age 4. But there wasn't any other way to get them if they finished early on a day or if we had to go somewhere after school

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/12/children-risk-air-pollution-cars-former-uk-chief-scientist-warns

I (politely) asked someone to consider not idling her car outside my house recently - she was sitting on her phone, it was warm so not for heating (she had all the windows open too) and had been idling for 25mins at this point - her response? Initially gave me a rude finger gesture and shut her windows on me, then got out the car and followed me down the road where I was walking, hurling abuse at me, then when I returned from my walk she was still there and called me a 'fucking Karen'. Luckily I could just laugh it off and tell her she was embarrassing herself but it certainly would make me think again before addressing someone again. Some people are very entitled, inconsiderate and don't believe they are impacting the environment.

If you can face it (maybe teaming up with another parent?), then knocking on people's car windows and handing them a leaflet about it would be a great idea.

Most of the disabled people I know and have cared for layer up even with thin layers and keep a blanket handy if they're likely to be sitting around in a car for a while.

I have thin layers on (currently have four on top and two on the bottom and a heated blanket going) and I have a fleece blanket on the passenger seat that I pull across when sitting.

Leaflets!

More waste..

Yes idling is annoying but you'll make yourself look mad putting stickers on people's cars.

I've often considered doing this, but don't know how I'd manage without anyone seeing me. And you'd have to be VERY sure nobody saw you 😬

Ask the local council to start a campaign - some councils already have - or to take specific action at a particular location such as outside a school. The council could put up notices or hand out reminders or publicise the issue in a variety of ways, such as in the local press and on their website.

I appreciate you have a reason @mountaindewview but the cast majority don't. I don't think there is anything wrong in asking idling cars to stop, and if someone explained they couldn't that's fine.

My dd and my father are both disabled with lung conditions that are exacerbated by exhaust fumes.

I have done as much as I can to mitigate having to run the heater but there comes a point in the year when I just can't manage without it

That's not necessary. Idling when necessary means when at traffic lights or in traffic. Your disability doesn't trump law.

@FriedasCarLoad Yes I was just thinking this might be a better solution!

And for those who are telling me to get a life or get a hobby, I don’t think putting together a leaflet trying to (even just slightly) improve children’s health is that bad a hobby but each to their own 🤷🏻‍♀️

I really don't get how a car can get cold enough to need the heating on- even for someone who feels the cold- in the 5 minutes it's parked outside a school?

@ThatGirlInACountrySong Can be printed on recycled paper but agree it’s not ideal. Any other ideas?

@FriedasCarLoad leaflets 🙄, so I guess your going to go around picking them all up after they are thrown and littering the streets also.

That's not what the law says.

I checked after the last thread like this.

It just says necessary - and for me it is.

But I tell you what. Next time you see me idling and you think it's not needed, phone the police and get me charged.

I would love a day in court to clear this all up. One way or another.

@mountaindewview Appreciate your replies and point of view on this and will make sure to consider this.

I am a bit more disabled than just feeling the cold

If you want to suggest that drivers change their behaviour, here's some advice on the best way to approach it.

www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/20001902.cyclist-calls-drivers-stop-idling-cut-pollution/