To feel angry at people running their car/van engines when waiting in car parks?

My neighbour has a habit of doing this on our shared driveway! He has a van and is frequently sliding the doors open and shut whilst unloading his tools. Very annoying, but he is such a nice man that I wouldn’t wish to fall out with him.

Hithere

Petera

Because it may be too hot outside?

So how is the rest of the world outside managing?

"Because it may be too hot outside?"
And not helped by idiots running their engines!

Definitely one of my pet hates. I see it often when I walk to school and parents are sitting outside in their cars texting and the engine is running so they can stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

They're just stupid really.

Word of warning. If your in a dodgy area ( as I was the other night) and there’s a very nice BMW with blacked out windows just ignore it and walk away.
I’m sure the driver who was just trying to earn a crust would have had something to say to me ?

Years ago I had a BMW ( a treat after the children left home and I didn't have to pay for them any more). Anyway I had to do lots of home visits. Quite often in dodgy areas. I was assured it would always be fine as everyone thought it was a drug dealers car! Nobody touched it and nobody ever gave me any cheek. (That may have just been the deterrent effect of my face though )

Petera

Hithere

Petera

Because it may be too hot outside?

So how is the rest of the world outside managing?

Because while I'm sitting in my car waiting for my charge in 40 degrees (if I'm lucky I got a shady park), the person I'm waiting for is in an air conditioned building, along with everyone else in the area. Or in colder weather, they're in a heated building. I'm not getting out of my car to get the wind added to the cold or burned in the sun.

I don't run my engine but I do sometimes turn it on for about 30 seconds to get a blast of air con or heat through the car, just enough to take the sting out of the air. I do find constant running of engines annoying and unnecessary. Especially in the heat though, I'm going to give myself a blast to just bring it down a little.

If it were up to me I'd not be sitting in the car in that kind of weather at all, but duty calls.

I live in a narrow Victorian street just off the main shopping road in a town. A few years ago, 40ft lorries started delivering to one particular shop, and the drivers occasionally (once or twice a week?) leave the engines on for 20 minutes or longer. A resident will go out and ask them to switch off. Sometimes they do, sometimes not, occasionally a driver is difficult.

I think if it is 40 degrees outside then you would have to use the aircon because it can get up to 60 or more in a car . People die very quickly in that sort of heat. Every year small children are affected badly here because parents just nip out to pay for petrol or get something from a shop and leave their babies to cook in the car.

Well don't leave small children in cars. I never did. No need to keep engines running pumping out more fumes and heat for everyone else

I couldn’t care less. A running car engine wouldn’t even register on my radar to be honest. We don’t do it but if someone else did I wouldn’t get up a head of steam over it.

Our LA takes it very seriously, I know of people being fined here.

However, despite agreeing that engines shouldn't be left running unnecessarily and damaging the environment, I cannot understand how we are meant to defrost our cars on frosty mornings, without running the engine.

Urmstongran

I couldn’t care less. A running car engine wouldn’t even register on my radar to be honest. We don’t do it but if someone else did I wouldn’t get up a head of steam over it.

Can't say I have ever notice either usually in too much of a hurry. Blooming electric cars you can't even hear them when they are moving let alone stationery.
Outside the school which is close to us more likely to be fuming at the inconsiderate parking as I squeeze through.

It's really bad for air quality (and you car)

I think I very rarely feel ‘angry’ about anything really. It’s just not in my nature.

That's the best way to be, I think.

If you're going to be selfish and leave your engine running at least have the decency ro park well away from other cars.
It's when they park right next to me that gets me and all their stinking fumes come in my car window.
Some people only think of themselves.

We have the full treatment here.
Parking on pavements, emptying ashtrays, engines running.
Then out comes someone with a beard and moustache to mummy's car, eats lots of food, and throws the wrappers out the windows, before they're taken home.

MissAdventure

We have the full treatment here.
Parking on pavements, emptying ashtrays, engines running.
Then out comes someone with a beard and moustache to mummy's car, eats lots of food, and throws the wrappers out the windows, before they're taken home.

That gave me a laugh, thanks. I am sure it is not funny if you have to live with it but it contours up something you would see in a comedy! I have to say you wouldn’t get away with it in stalag Australia !

It does annoy me, mostly because it's already a run down area, and it looks as if it done by the people who live here, as if we know no better.

I'm glad you said that, Urmstongran. I rarely get really annoyed about anyone or anything. Sometimes I wish I did.
There are a few things that get my goat, but never massively.
But I do think people should not leave their engines running.
It is stupid.

Irritated, probably. Angry? Rarely and not enough to bother posting about it on Gransnet. Anger is a waste of energy!

Thirty years ago, I remember a friend would not push her baby in the buggy along busy roads because of car fumes. I suspect respiratory problems are worse now than then, and there are more cars.

We are encouraged to switch off our engines at level crossings round here. Surely that is a reminder that it's bad for the environment, it's bad for children and it's bad for your car. No brainer really.

By the way some people sit in their car with the engine running on double yellows so they are not accused of parking by the traffic wardens.

Urmstongran

I think I very rarely feel ‘angry’ about anything really. It’s just not in my nature.

Good for you. Although I do wonder if you lived near a school with lots of parents in cars waiting just in front of your drive, or near a popular tourist spot with lots of coaches waiting, day in day out, and often late into the evening- you might not get a tiny bit ariated, somehow.

Fleurpepper I live next door but one to our local primary school, I can understand folks running their engines to keep cool or warm depending on the season.

Modern eco engines are far less polluting than the old diesel gas guzzlers.