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AIBU

Leaving engine running outside Vets

(72 Posts)
helgawills Wed 14-Oct-20 11:38:41

We went to Vets to pick up our dog, who had had dental surgery. As we are in a newly created High Risk area, everybody had to wait outside and phone in for attention in a numbered parking bay.

In the bay next to ours was a big 4x4 with engine running. I know cars parked on a road should not leave engines running for more than 2 minutes, but this was a private car park.

Having said that, poorly pets were taken past that vehicle by vets and nurses, the last thing they need is breathing in some irresponsible idiots diesel fumes. Several times I said to my husband that I'll go and ask them to turn off their engine, but he did not want me to do it, so I didn't.

I feel furious with myself for not saying anything, though, and I told him, I would never again stay silent and enable wrong-doing, as that is as bad as doing it ourselves.

By the time we left that engine had been running for over 35 minutes. Please advise, what would you do? I am quite shy, but this made me really mad.

moggie57 Thu 15-Oct-20 12:51:05

i would have said something too. we get council people too sit outside my flat enginer running/ smoking / i leant out of my window and shouted either you going to poison yourself from gas fumes or kill yourself from cancer... he looked at me ..i said turn off your motor you polluting my space. he shot off down the road..

moggie57 Thu 15-Oct-20 12:52:00

what people dont realise is that children in buggies are the right height to get a face full of petrol fumes.

helgawills Thu 15-Oct-20 12:54:18

Wow, thank you all for your comments. Regarding Schools, many of which are over-subscribed, I wonder if the threat to expel a pupil, if parents persistently flout the advice given, could have the desired effect?

Taliya Thu 15-Oct-20 13:02:56

It's not really any of your business is it. If you had said anything to the driver of the 4x4 it could have caused a scene. I think what this pandemic has done is made people more willing to be judgemental of others and feel they have a right to confront people. Live and let live is all I can say!

MerylStreep Thu 15-Oct-20 13:08:52

Greengran
Buses run on Diesel engines. Diesel engines are not start and go 30 seconds should be sufficient. But if it's freezing outside it will take longer.
Replacing one of these engines is hugely expensive, diesel is cheap.

grandtanteJE65 Thu 15-Oct-20 13:09:27

I would politely have asked them to turn off their engine if they weren't intending to drive away.

A police car or ambulance left with its engine running is a completely different matter, Accidents must be prevented or attended quicly.

KatB Thu 15-Oct-20 13:29:25

Where do you live? Here in Florida it's still in the 90's so we leave our vehicles running with air conditioning on when we have to wait in them. I'd never ask someone to turn their engine off.

Bazza Thu 15-Oct-20 13:31:19

I would have asked them (politely) to turn the engine off. I don’t think it’s a case of live and let live if it’s affecting you. People who do this are no better than litter lotus IMO.

Fernhillnana Thu 15-Oct-20 13:31:48

I think there needs to be political action on this. It’s not right to expect caring people to tackle this.

GrauntyHelen Thu 15-Oct-20 13:55:23

If I was as bothered as you were I'd have said something and my husband would have known better than try to stop me

Diggingdoris Thu 15-Oct-20 13:56:10

I used to walk my little dog down near the village school in the afternoons, but have changed my route because I was always angry at the parents sitting in cars with engines running. In the summer it's so the air con can be on and in the winter for the heating. I'm asthmatic and it always made me cough, so I wonder what damage it was doing to kiddies in pushchairs and my Jack Russell who was just at exhaust height.
But like so many above, I was to afraid to say anything for fear if being told where to go!

quizqueen Thu 15-Oct-20 13:59:11

I would have asked the veterinary staff to speak to them as it would have better coming from them.

Susiewong65 Thu 15-Oct-20 18:17:33

It annoys me when people park outside the local school and sit in their cars with their engines running and sometimes for 30 mins or more just so they can stay warm and get a parking space as they are too lazy to walk !!

Toyoungtobeadamnedgran Thu 15-Oct-20 20:15:43

A neighbour of ours gets picked up in the mornings and at 5.30am the van that picks him up sits with its engine running until he comes out at 5.45. I'm not a very good sleeper these days so I marched out knocked on his window and said " excuse me but most of the people here don't all have to be up at this time of the morning so if you could be so kind and switch your engine off in future and turn the radio down a bit it would be much appreciated" smiles sweetly then tripped over my slippers as I walked away feeling like a champion praying under my breath he wasn't laughing at me in his mirror ?????

Joplin Fri 16-Oct-20 02:24:42

Definitely ask the vet to put a notice outside ( should have been there already ). It will be interesting to see their reaction to that request. I'd visit their car park soon after to see if they've done that.

Joplin Fri 16-Oct-20 02:29:13

If everyone thought "Live & let live" ( Taliya ) there wouldn't be much hope for the future if the planet.

Joplin Fri 16-Oct-20 02:29:57

"Of" the planet

Spice101 Fri 16-Oct-20 04:33:56

Your reaction seems a bit over the top to me in terms of enabling wrong doing. There may have been a legitimate reason to keep the motor running. While probably not an ideal thing to do I think there are far greater wrong doings to be concerned about.

MagicWand Fri 16-Oct-20 18:13:50

Helgawills - that last comment of yours is a bit steep, sins of the fathers and all that!!

MayBee70 Fri 16-Oct-20 18:40:49

I just remembered that when our dog had an operation at the vets recently we too were parked next to a car that kept its engine running and, given that it was a very small car park and all consultations were being held outside it really annoyed me.

Kamiso Sat 17-Oct-20 18:06:17

Pippa22

What is it about bad behaviour that makes people frightened to point it out ? Obviously be sensible not to put yourself at risk but car engine running outside vets or school, of course you should say. It’s called being public spirited and we are all responsible for our environment.

My husband thought the same when he called out to some yobs vandalising cars. The dog danced around him as he was punched in the face. One yob actually called to another to get out his knife!

He was saved by another gang of boys who were passing and yelled “what are you doing beating up an old man?” and then set upon the first group. OH had only gone out to walk the dog round the block. Not sure what hurt most, being referred to as an old man or having a black eye and bloody nose!