Sitting in parked car with engine running

I agree and I think I've seen or heard that some areas are introducing a byelaw to stop it. I could have made that up

I have to admit to doing it myself sometimes - I get in the car, start the engine and then think that I'd better just check my phone. I am trying to be more aware of it though.

I have found people who do this are driving big gas guzzler type vechicles and are saying "look at me and my status symbol car" they are clueless as to the damage they are doing to the enviroment,if you did mention anything to them you would most likely be subject to a tirade of abuse of some kind.

I sat in the car yesterday having driven Grampy to a medical apt. I couldn't go in because I didn't have my scooter and I couldn't do the trek.

It was pretty hot and despite opening a window , it was very close to a main road so the passing fumes were pretty badly ( mostly generated from buses at the bus stop).

So ,I did turn the engine on a couple of times to fire up the aircon.

My engine automatically turns off when you come to a full stop at lights and in traffic . So generally I am aware but I wasn't about to roast for want of a five minute engine run.

Some local schools are asking parents not to leave their engines running when collecting the children

I've been known to do this when waiting for someone and the ambient temperature is bloody perishing. Seems unlikely to be necessary even in Scotland at this time of year, though we have had the heating on for a bit or a fire lit during many a Scottish July.

Well I'm deeply disappointed in you! If you're approached by a furious red faced woman brandishing Friends of the Earth leaflets it'll be me!!

If you approached me waving leaflets you would need to go to A&E to have them removed.

Good luck trying that!

It seems to me that there is a difference between putting the engine on periodically if it is excessively hot or cold and just sitting with it on in general.

My car turns off the engine at lights - frightened me silly the first few times.

I thought that there was going to be a bill or something stopping this? I must have been dreaming

I heard that on the news about parents sitting with their engines on while waiting for their children to come out of school. I can only imagine they're doing it because they'd be parked illegally otherwise...

We used to live next to a school and used to be so fed up with the lazy mums just sitting in their cars, engines running, filling our street with fumes!
Yes there is currently a campaign running about this just now. It is going to be illegal if it isn't already.

You needn't be disppointed in me, jane10. I said I have been known to do it, implying, I thought, that it was a rare event. I walked with my kids to school until they were old enough to go by themselves and walked back to collect them. Minibags gets a council school bus home from school now. Just once in a blue moon I or her father have had to collect her from somewhere in winter. We are responsible citizens who try to do our best in all circumstances. So I'd be doing the same as kitty with any leaflets you angrily waved at me. Do calm down and stop thinking the worst of people on minimal evidence.

It's not minimal evidence unfortunately!

So there! That's you told Jane (think you struck a nerve )

What I gave you was minimal evidence. I'm only objecting, a little, to the tone of your response to me, j10. The principle at stake I agree with.

I have lots of nerves, anya ??

its definately against the law in Scotland so just take their number Jane10 and hand it to a traffic warden or policeman .

Living in the city this is a big issue and I'm grateful to paddyann for clarifying its illegality and appropriate response.