Report neighbours, idling cars on drive

[Ginglymostomatidae]

Our neighbour has 2 prius cars. Instead of taking then for a drive, he'll turn the car on, and let it idle on the drive for around 15 mins each car. Its always at anti social hours and it wakes us everytime.

This morning he done this at 4.20am and I've been awake ever since and I'm exhausted.

He's done this at 2.45am on a Sunday morning before, and nearly always on a weekday. He WFH.

Would you report? And where?

YES! Report. People who do this boil my piss. 'trying to defrost the car' is a bullshit excuse. Use de-icer like a normal person FGS! It's also against the law to leave cars idling!

As for who to report it to ... I'd start with the Council.

We have a function on an app where we can remote start and heat the car. Has heated windscreen as well.

If we know we're going out and its cold, start it, let it defrost itself and warm up the seats and the steering wheel, get into a nice and toasty car.

Got to love a Range Rover

When you had this conversation did you ask him to do it during day time please as it wakes you? That's not an unreasonable request of you.

He might be on economy 7 and charging it during the cheap rate.

When you had this conversation did you ask him to do it during day time please as it wakes you?

This. It seems like an easy situation to fix with a clear, firm conversation, unless he's a loon.

If he's such a dick that he won't listen to reason then presumably he's antisocial in other ways- in which case I'd move.

Do you own a car... you cant just hop in and drive in weather like this.

It takes 15-20 to defrost the INSIDE of my car which has iced up (literal icicles on the inside windows).

This is after the 10-15 minutes defrosting the outside (the door lock keeps freezing in place so wont unlock so needs to be warmed + windows that are 2-3 inches thick with snow then ice underneath).

There no possible way I could hop in and legally drive a car with no visability due to ice THAT illegal, prepping your car for driving is NOT.

I assume you live in a city with mild weather, the idea that you can just spray a bit of de-icer on is hillariously ignorant.

Why anonymous?

I wish there was something you can do about it, it really does start to affect your life. My neighbour idles/revs a HGV at 5am, waking the whole street but we can't do anything about it.

That is extremely odd behaviour, if he works at home he could do it at any time, ie in the day time.

If he is doing it every week, in the early hours, then you could report him to the council, but it would be better to try and have a chat with him about it first if you feel that you can approach him.

I know that local shops had to cease deliveries in the early hours after neighbours complained about the noise, so things can be done about it.

My local council has a section to report idling cars as it's illegal. Check your LC website to see if they have similar, assuming you can't just speak to the neighbour first.

Stationary idling is an offence under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
The act enforces Rule 123 of the Highway Code, that states: "You must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road."

This is because research has found that an idling car causes enough emissions to fill 150 balloons with harmful pollutants every minute.

It's not on a public road it's on his driveway

Sorry - just seen you have asked him and he's said no. In that case, still check with the council as this could be approached through noise nuisance.

Does he go anywhere at that time in the morning?

If I knew his employer I'd be tempted to contact them. Ask them to get him to come into the office one day a week.

I do have a motorbike that I could rev?

His employer would, rightly, think you were a nutcase.

He sits in each car, with it turned on and engine running. He doesn't rev it, but let's it run for 15 mins, turns it off and goes in

Warm (not boiling) salty water is as effective as de-icer and cheaper and more eco friendly

Well what did he say when you ask why he does it at 2am?

It's wearing me down now. Every week, for 3 years, when I'm running my full time business and doing a full time degree.
My life is tiring and something little like this is not helping. Up since 4.20am and I'm working til 8pm tonight, 12 hours. I could have done with the sleep.

This is clearly nuisance noise. Your council should take it seriously. Noise is often handled by the environmental health team - have a look at the website and give them a call, with the facts you have shared here.

He's an early riser. Which they are and we know, as I'll say good morning when he's doing his gardening at 6am and I'm leaving for uni.

I have a disability and my husband heats the car before I get in. Our old car was a nightmare and he would run it to warm it for me In its last week we had to jump start it so would idle it rather than turn it off. Only for 2 mins or so and never before 9am. Usually afternoon. He reported us to the police and gave them video, they laughed at him. It is not illegal it is classed as normal day to day noise.

it is classed as normal day to day noise.

Not at 2am for no journey it isn't.